as in distress
a state of great suffering of body or mind
in great straits over the loss of her mother's cherished necklace
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Recent Examples of straits
Desperate for more space, the city negotiated an initial $40 million deal with the Row, still in financial straits from the pandemic.
—
Luis Ferré-Sadurní, New York Times, 23 Dec. 2024
Recognizing the dire straits, the California Fish and Game Commission in April voted to uplist desert tortoises from threatened to endangered.
—Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 21 Dec. 2024
Both straits are situated near Taiwan.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
Because the Montreux Convention enforced by Ankara prevents Russian warships passing through the Turkish straits, Moscow is likely to redeploy the vessels to its bases in northwestern Russia and Kaliningrad, which borders the Baltic Sea, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said.
—Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2024
While Jets fans may be used to such dire straits as the NFL regular season enters its final full month, the implosion of both New York franchises makes for one of the league’s most cringeworthy storylines this year.
—Kyle Feldscher, CNN, 27 Nov. 2024
Much of the money in this agreement will likely be structured as debt too—and will add to a global debt crisis that the International Monetary Fund estimates has 35 countries in dire financial straits this year.
—Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 24 Nov. 2024
Back then, the Cuban American community in Miami took Elian's case as a cause to beat Fidel Castro and as a way to communicate to the world why so many Cubans left the island, even at the risk of dying in the Florida straits.
—Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 9 Oct. 2024
Instead, local governments, many already in difficult financial straits, have spent to keep what are rapidly becoming zombi firms afloat.
—Milton Ezrati, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024
Luis Ferré-Sadurní, New York Times, 23 Dec. 2024
Recognizing the dire straits, the California Fish and Game Commission in April voted to uplist desert tortoises from threatened to endangered.
—Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 21 Dec. 2024
Both straits are situated near Taiwan.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
Because the Montreux Convention enforced by Ankara prevents Russian warships passing through the Turkish straits, Moscow is likely to redeploy the vessels to its bases in northwestern Russia and Kaliningrad, which borders the Baltic Sea, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said.
—Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2024
While Jets fans may be used to such dire straits as the NFL regular season enters its final full month, the implosion of both New York franchises makes for one of the league’s most cringeworthy storylines this year.
—Kyle Feldscher, CNN, 27 Nov. 2024
Much of the money in this agreement will likely be structured as debt too—and will add to a global debt crisis that the International Monetary Fund estimates has 35 countries in dire financial straits this year.
—Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 24 Nov. 2024
Back then, the Cuban American community in Miami took Elian's case as a cause to beat Fidel Castro and as a way to communicate to the world why so many Cubans left the island, even at the risk of dying in the Florida straits.
—Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 9 Oct. 2024
Instead, local governments, many already in difficult financial straits, have spent to keep what are rapidly becoming zombi firms afloat.
—Milton Ezrati, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straits
Noun
-
Brown said a bite from a lone star tick can trigger an allergic reaction, with symptoms including hives, gastrointestinal distress and potentially life-threatening anaphylaxis.—
State House News Service,
Boston Herald,
13 July 2025
-
Tiffany had shown no indication of being depressed or in emotional distress.—
Alex Gurley,
People.com,
12 July 2025
Noun
-
But the first lady and I are here in Texas to express the love and support and the anguish of our entire nation in the aftermath of this really horrific and deadly flood.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
11 July 2025
-
Ming-Na Wen Tapped Into Deep Emotions To Play Dr. Fong In ‘Karate Kid: Legends’ While Ming-Na Wen doesn’t throw a punch in Karate Kid: Legends, that doesn’t mean her character hasn’t been in past battles, particularly those dealing with mental anguish.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2025
Noun
-
Meanwhile, Joseph writhes in the agony of his own newfound girl craziness (and cleavage obsession).—
Daniel Dockery,
Vulture,
7 July 2025
-
Williams was never offered any other clear pathway to finding relief—even as the agony from her fibroids was getting worse.—
Kayla Greaves,
SELF,
3 July 2025
Noun
-
Our lives in Iran, our pain, are different from the ‘official’ version.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
7 July 2025
-
Six months ago, two weeks before my planned starting date, a mysterious pain in my side sent me to see Doc Morris for a checkup that led to a surprise double surgery to remove both a dodgy gallbladder and a carrot-sized tumor from my lower intestines, the first serious medical crisis of my life.—
James Dodson
July 7,
Literary Hub,
7 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Straits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straits. Accessed 20 Jul. 2025.
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