in dire straits

phrase

: in a very bad or difficult situation

With its best player out of the game, the team found itself in dire straits.

Examples of in dire straits in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In that film, a director famous for comedies yearns to make grimly earnest movies about the Depression, but learns that what people in dire straits crave is the distraction and release of comedy. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2026

With back-to-back road games at Buffalo and Seattle on deck as part of a tough seven-game stretch, failure to win against their AFC West rivals could quickly leave Los Angeles’ playoff hopes in dire straits. — ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026

Yes, the game is in dire straits, but shuttering a second, brand new game after what just took place is probably a bridge too far, even for Sony. — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

The justices were also concerned there had been too much testimony around how Murdaugh stole from clients, many of them in dire straits. — Jeffrey Collins, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026

Rhymes for in dire straits

• accelerates
• accommodates
• accumulates
• alienates
• annihilates
• anticipates
• appreciates
• appropriates
• assimilates
• attenuates
• authenticates
• bicarbonates