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
Navy Secretary John Phelan last summer told a US House of Representatives hearing that US naval construction was in dire straits.
—
Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 17 Feb. 2026
Both men instantly found themselves in dire straits.
—Peter Bart, Deadline, 12 Feb. 2026
Canham-Clyne said Chipotle is not yet in dire straits.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2026
And elsewhere, viewers drawn to writers in dire straits can find Dawn Porter’s When a Witness Recants.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for in dire straits
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Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 17 Feb. 2026
Both men instantly found themselves in dire straits.
—Peter Bart, Deadline, 12 Feb. 2026
Canham-Clyne said Chipotle is not yet in dire straits.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2026
And elsewhere, viewers drawn to writers in dire straits can find Dawn Porter’s When a Witness Recants.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 22 Jan. 2026
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 Feb. 2026.
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