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

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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

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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.

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