1
as in ominous
being or showing a sign of evil or calamity to come
a dire forecast of a plunge in stock prices
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in terrifying
causing fear
a series of dire tremors that hinted at a huge volcanic eruption
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in urgent
needing immediate attention
a dire need for food and medicine in the famine-stricken country
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in bleak
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer
with stock prices steadily falling, these are dire days on the trading floor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dire
Obi-Wan must have fallen into some dire straits to end up looking like Guinness.
—
Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 2 Nov. 2024
Knowing this, Arizona medical doctors and nurses joined together to share a message about the importance of supporting climate action at the polls this year for the well-being of residents exposed to some of the nation's highest temperatures, worst air pollution and most dire drought conditions.
—Joan Meiners, The Arizona Republic, 2 Nov. 2024
People in prisons often face especially dire conditions when extreme heat hits as facilities are ill-equipped for blazing temperatures.
—Minnah Arshad, USA TODAY, 1 Nov. 2024
Because the consequences, especially if someone is pushed out of the closet, could be dire.
—David Oliver, USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dire 
Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 2 Nov. 2024
Knowing this, Arizona medical doctors and nurses joined together to share a message about the importance of supporting climate action at the polls this year for the well-being of residents exposed to some of the nation's highest temperatures, worst air pollution and most dire drought conditions.
—Joan Meiners, The Arizona Republic, 2 Nov. 2024
People in prisons often face especially dire conditions when extreme heat hits as facilities are ill-equipped for blazing temperatures.
—Minnah Arshad, USA TODAY, 1 Nov. 2024
Because the consequences, especially if someone is pushed out of the closet, could be dire.
—David Oliver, USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dire
Adjective
-
The early returns were ominous, and prospects did not improve from there.Vox Staff, Vox, 6 Nov. 2024
-
The brief visual featured a snippet of the track — a few ominous piano notes with some percussion.Ilana Kaplan, People.com, 28 Oct. 2024
Adjective
-
Winters — who was so terrifying in Heroes of the Fourth Turning and who revealed a messy vulnerability behind Kerry Castellabate’s hard bangs and structured suits on Succession — is a pro at tough, slick surfaces with tangles of insecurity underneath.Sara Holdren, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024
-
Perusing the store’s shelves, there’s the usual lineup of Route 66 merch alongside a host of shirts bearing new and terrifying puns.Dan Sheehan, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
Working with key allies such as Australia and Japan to bolster deterrence will require urgent effort.Michael Green, Foreign Affairs, 19 Nov. 2024
-
Oxygen is an urgent need in this mountain town of 2,857.Peter Elkind, ProPublica, 13 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
Some recipients responded to the texts with anger and others with a sense of humor, but many agree that the messages seem to be a bleak foreshadowing.Char Adams, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
-
The stock's fate hinges on the 2024 presidential election results, with potential appreciation if Trump wins, but a bleak outlook if Kamala Harris prevails.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
Specifically, Bill becomes increasingly aware of young girls being held and abused by the nuns of his convent, led by a sinister mother superior, Sister Mary (played with dark-eyed, cold-hearted terror by Emily Watson).Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 5 Nov. 2024
-
Elliot Page translates vitality and promise as the young teen, while a blood-freezing Catherine Keener is the sinister embodiment of resentment and cruelty.Declan Gallagher and Chris Bellamy, EW.com, 31 Oct. 2024
Adjective
-
While Malloy's candidacy represents a clear challenge to Sanders' decades-long dominance in Vermont politics, the senator's enduring popularity and political influence remain formidable.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
-
Its formidable Second Fleet would protect sea routes, support the continent’s major naval powers, and continue to provide extended deterrence—satiating Europeans who are afraid of abandonment at a time of Russian revanchism.Sumantra Maitra, Foreign Affairs, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
In the years since, losses in some places have neared 20% — and were particularly acute following a massive flood event in 2019.Madeline Heim, Journal Sentinel, 21 Nov. 2024
-
To address the acute issues at hand, the Day 1 Fund generally supports organizations that offer emergency or other temporary shelter to specific families.Phoebe Liu, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
Thanks for following along. jen chaney Updated Nov. 5, 2024, 11:20 PM EST In all seriousness, this is depressing as hell Kornacki has been sharing a lot of percentage points and weird names of counties in the Midwest — Winnebago? — for the past five-plus hours.Jen Chaney, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2024
-
Loading your audio article The national election news was downright depressing for many in the Bay Area, but there was a lot of cause for celebration among local candidates Tuesday night.Sal Pizarro, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near dire
Cite this Entry
“Dire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dire. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share