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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dire
Now the brain rot persists, but the underlying subject matter is more dire.
—
Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2025
Despite its dire status in Scotland, the European wildcat species as a whole remains relatively secure, with strongholds across mainland Europe.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
And her time frame will be narrow because the fiscal picture is so dire and the mayoral term is so short.
—East Bay Times Editorial, The Mercury News, 22 Mar. 2025
Other situations, while just as dire, don’t have happy endings.
—Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dire
Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2025
Despite its dire status in Scotland, the European wildcat species as a whole remains relatively secure, with strongholds across mainland Europe.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
And her time frame will be narrow because the fiscal picture is so dire and the mayoral term is so short.
—East Bay Times Editorial, The Mercury News, 22 Mar. 2025
Other situations, while just as dire, don’t have happy endings.
—Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dire
Adjective
-
Living in this area means constantly being on high alert when the weather turns ominous.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
People.com,
5 Apr. 2025
-
If the sky turns ominous and thunder can be heard, find a secure place for shelter.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Back in August, Renner spoke about how his terrifying snowplow accident in January 2023 led to his daughter becoming a little more independent.—
Hannah Sacks,
People.com,
28 Mar. 2025
-
Prehistoric insects encased in amber reveal a terrifying evolutionary road that dead-ended sometime after the mid-Cretaceous period.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The Seahawks have an urgent need along the interior offensive line, and Schneider has spent most of the offseason acknowledging that issue — and explaining his reasoning for the lack of big-time moves.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2025
-
In the nineteen-sixties and seventies, the Vietnam War was a matter of urgent concern in politics and scholarship alike.—
Nikil Saval,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The coming-of-age story finds a new generation of young women in Gilead, grappling with the bleak future that awaits them.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
1 Apr. 2025
-
Stocks had sold off sharply last Friday, amid growing uncertainty on U.S. trade policy and a bleak inflation outlook.—
Amala Balakrishner,
CNBC,
30 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The supernatural thriller is set in the Jim Crow South, where twin brothers—each played by Jordan—return home from Chicago with hopes of starting over, only to confront a sinister force that’s been waiting for them.—
Essence,
Essence,
2 Apr. 2025
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The banal village tunes that Mahler altered into sinister mock vulgarities—did these not recall the raffish klezmer bands, the wandering musicians who played at shtetl weddings?—
David Denby,
The Atlantic,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
In the great-power competition with the United States’ adversaries, none is more formidable than the Chinese Communist Party.—
Arthur Herman,
National Review,
3 Apr. 2025
-
Tyler Glasnow is formidable on the mound when healthy.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
In some instances, yes, according to one study which looked at the recommendations from a chatbot compared to those of doctors assessing acute respiratory, urinary, vaginal, eye or dental symptoms.—
Danielle Chemtob,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
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Researchers from Dartmouth College built the bot as a way of taking a new approach to a longstanding problem: The U.S. continues to grapple with an acute shortage of mental health providers.—
Katia Riddle,
NPR,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Some people thought that was too depressing or whatever.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
-
Many learned the depressing answer only when trying to scan badges and getting rejected by security, which treated them more or less like trespassers.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
5 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dire. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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