strait

adjective \ ˈstrāt \

|Updated on: 5 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: strait in a Sentence

Editor's Note: strait or straight?

Definition of strait

1 archaic : strict, rigorous

2 archaic

a : narrow

b : limited in space or time

c : closely fitting : constricted, tight

3 a : causing distress : difficult

b : limited as to means or resources

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straitly

adverb

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straitness

noun

Recent Examples of strait from the Web

India will have to gird for the coming border war with an expansionist China, and Taiwan will prepare for the inevitable cross-strait invasion.

— jerry hendrix, National Review, "Why the United States Needs a 355-Ship Navy Now," 18 Oct. 2017
While other performers revel in the inherent humor of their roles, Laura Carns is entrusted with the more strait-laced persona of Alice Sycamore.

— bob kostanczuk, Post-Tribune, "Opera House brings new life to 'You Can't Take it With You'," 6 Sep. 2017
One of the world's most important sea lanes, millions of barrels of oil and petroleum products pass through the strait daily, according to GlobalSecurity.org.

— brad lendon and steve george, CNN, "China sends troops to Djibouti, establishes first overseas military base," 13 July 2017
A laconic, strait-laced, hilariously hard-boiled investigator with an encyclopedic knowledge of perps past and present, Miramontes’ Charlie isn’t about to be led around by the nose by femmes Mona or Veronica.

— Orange County Register, "‘Kill Me, Deadly’ in Fullerton delivers dead-on parody of film noir," 29 Mar. 2017
Subsequent episodes, including one in which the most strait-laced teacher got looped on alcohol and ran wild and naked through the halls like a demented leprechaun, maintained the madcap standard.

— james wolcott, HWD, "5 Underrated TV Shows You Should Watch Right Now," 18 Jan. 2017
Subsequent episodes, including one in which the most strait-laced teacher got looped on alcohol and ran wild and naked through the halls like a demented leprechaun, maintained the madcap standard.

— james wolcott, vanityfair.com, "5 Underrated TV Shows You Should Watch Right Now," 18 Jan. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'strait.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

strait or straight?

Straight and strait are homophones (“one of two or more words pronounced alike but different in meaning or derivation or spelling”), and many people are in the habit of confusing such creatures, particularly when used in fixed phrases. If you express no emotion you have a straight face; an upright person is a straight shooter; a straight flush is “a poker hand containing five cards of the same suit in sequence.” However, if you find yourself in a difficult situation you are in dire straits. Straitjacket and straitlaced are the more commonly used forms for the restrictive garment and the “strict in manners” adjective, although straightjacket and straightlaced are also occasionally found.

Origin and Etymology of strait

Middle English, from Anglo-French estreit, from Latin strictus strait, strict, from past participle of stringere

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First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

strait

adverb

Definition of strait

obsolete

: in a close or tight manner

First Known Use of strait

13th century

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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strait

noun

Definition of strait

1 a archaic : a narrow space or passage

b : a comparatively narrow passageway connecting two large bodies of water —often used in plural but singular in construction

c : isthmus

2 : a situation of perplexity or distress —often used in plural

in dire straits

See strait defined for English-language learners

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Examples of strait in a Sentence

Her campaign is in desperate straits.
The company is in desperate financial straits.
The economy is in dire straits.

Recent Examples of strait from the Web

The insurance contracts Blackstone took out, known as credit-default swaps, typically pay out when a company defaults, usually reflecting dire financial straits.

— tory newmyer, Washington Post, "The Finance 202: Voters already fear economic pain from Trump's trade war," 9 July 2018
The insurance contracts Blackstone took out, known as credit-default swaps, typically pay out when a company defaults, usually reflecting dire financial straits.

— andrew scurria, WSJ, "How Regulators Averted a Debacle in Credit-Default Swaps," 8 July 2018
McKinsey’s proposal appeared perfect for a company in desperate financial straits.

— New York Times, "How McKinsey Lost Its Way in South Africa," 26 June 2018
Others who are in really dire straits might seek out a payday loan, but those are woefully predatory options — so much so that Google finally decided to ban those ads from lenders on its search engine.

— refinery29.com, "5 Things To Do When You're Hit With An Unexpected Expense," 7 June 2018
Bloomberg reports that Berkshire Hathaway would have provided a convertible loan to Uber that would have protected Buffett’s investment should Uber hit financial straits, while providing significant upside if Uber continued to grow in value.

— polina marinova, Fortune, "Term Sheet -- Thursday, May 31," 31 May 2018
Mr Potdevin’s successor, says Jennifer Redding of Wedbush Securities, an investment firm, should be a strait-laced professional willing to keep his or her head down.

— The Economist, "Despite falling foul of the #MeToo movement, Lululemon is soaring," 12 July 2018
The Walker administration’s move on CAFOs comes as large farms have grown and many smaller dairy farmers find themselves in dire straits.

— lee bergquist, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Dairy group uses behind-the-scenes influence with Gov. Scott Walker to shift regulation of large livestock farms," 6 July 2018
With a replacement for Mihajlovic set to be announced on Monday, according to the club's hierarchy, the new man in charge will have his work cut out to fix a side who are in dire straits.

— SI.com, "Sporting CP's Crisis Worsens After Club Sack Sinisa Mihajlovic After Only 9 Days as Manager," 28 June 2018

First Known Use of strait

14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

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strait Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of strait

juncture, exigency, emergency, contingency, pinch, strait (or straits) crisis mean a critical or crucial time or state of affairs. juncture stresses the significant concurrence or convergence of events.