in dire straits
idiom
: 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
But anything short of clear optimism about returning in the near future is going to add to concern for a Yankees team that is in dire straits.
—
Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Aug. 2025
With Afghanistan’s economy still in dire straits after the international troop withdrawal in 2021, Zahirah was the sole breadwinner in her household, which includes her five young children.
—Elise Blanchard, Time, 21 Aug. 2025
With the death of physical media and the slow decline of the theater business, movies are in dire straits these days.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025
But Sentry breaks free from her control and then, fueled by Bob's repressed emotions, transforms into a shadowy figure called The Void, putting New York City and our heroes in dire straits.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 4 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for in dire straits
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.
Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Aug. 2025
With Afghanistan’s economy still in dire straits after the international troop withdrawal in 2021, Zahirah was the sole breadwinner in her household, which includes her five young children.
—Elise Blanchard, Time, 21 Aug. 2025
With the death of physical media and the slow decline of the theater business, movies are in dire straits these days.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025
But Sentry breaks free from her control and then, fueled by Bob's repressed emotions, transforms into a shadowy figure called The Void, putting New York City and our heroes in dire straits.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 4 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for in dire straits
Cite this Entry
“In dire straits.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20dire%20straits. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share