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dire
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- pronunciation:
- daIr
- features:
- Word Combinations (adjective)
| part of speech: |
adjective |
| inflections: |
direr, direst |
| definition 1: |
causing, likely to cause, or involving terror or suffering.
She knew the situation was dire when she saw him slip under the ice.The family was in dire circumstances after losing their farm.- synonyms:
- dreadful, fearful, frightful, horrible, terrible
- similar words:
- atrocious, awful, dread, fearsome, ghastly, grievous, grim, harrowing, horrendous, horrid, unspeakable
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| definition 2: |
warning of misfortune or calamity.
The radar shows a dire outlook for those craft still out at sea.- synonyms:
- alarming, ominous
- similar words:
- grave, grim, ill-fated, sinister, warning
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| definition 3: |
extreme or desperate.
Victims of the earthquake were in dire need of medical care.- synonyms:
- critical, desperate, extreme, severe, terrible
- similar words:
- dangerous, fearful, grave, urgent, vital
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| related words: |
appalling, bad, disastrous, severe, sore, sorry, tough, tragic, violent |
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| derivations: |
direly (adv.), direness (n.) |
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