Definition of STRAIT

Choose the Right Synonym for strait

Noun

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. an important juncture in our country's history exigency stresses the pressure of restrictions or urgency of demands created by a special situation. provide for exigencies emergency applies to a sudden unforeseen situation requiring prompt action to avoid disaster. the presence of mind needed to deal with emergencies contingency implies an emergency or exigency that is regarded as possible but uncertain of occurrence. contingency plans pinch implies urgency or pressure for action to a less intense degree than exigency or emergency. come through in a pinch strait, now commonly straits, applies to a troublesome situation from which escape is extremely difficult. in dire straits crisis applies to a juncture whose outcome will make a decisive difference. a crisis of confidence

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.

Examples of strait in a Sentence

Noun

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

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

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

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra made headlines this month after musicians, donors and members of the public learned the organization is in dire financial straits. — Baltimore Sun Staff, baltimoresun.com, "How the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra found itself in trouble," 17 June 2019 Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps said Thursday that the RQ-4 Global Hawk was inside Iranian airspace over the southern province of Hormozgan, next to the strategic strait. — Martin Finucane, BostonGlobe.com, "Here’s what you need to know about US-Iran tensions after a US drone was shot down Thursday," 20 June 2019 That agreement, backed by legislation rushed through the Legislature during the December lame-duck session, said Enbridge would pay to dig a tunnel into bedrock beneath the straits. — Paul Egan, Detroit Free Press, "Whitmer: Shutdown of Enbridge Line 5 appears inevitable amid stalled talks," 19 June 2019 Iran has previously threatened to close the strait if it is prevented from using it. — Joseph Hincks, Time, "How U.S. Allies in the Middle East are Responding to Rising Tensions with Iran," 18 June 2019 At the Capitol, school advocates cited Beaverton’s budgetary straits as evidence the state’s $9 billion school funding plan wasn’t generous enough. — oregonlive.com, "$12 million accounting error, soaring pension costs put Beaverton schools in dire straits," 14 June 2019 In late 2011 Iran again threatened to block the strait in retaliation for US and EU sanctions that targeted its oil revenue. — Nic Robertson, CNN, "With Iran, sometimes the logical explanation is the correct one," 14 June 2019 The strait’s importance can’t be overstated: about 40% of the world’s physical crude traded daily passes through it, according to Rystad Energy. — Katherine Dunn, Fortune, "Oil Tanker Attacks Near Iran Put the Squeeze on a Unexpected Party: Japan," 13 June 2019 The petition cited a March 29 Baltimore Sun story that highlighted high vacancies and dire financial straits for both Harborplace and The Village of Cross Keys, another high-profile Baltimore retail center owned by Ashkenazy. — Lorraine Mirabella, baltimoresun.com, "Judge takes Baltimore's Harborplace out of owner's control, paving way for possible sale," 3 June 2019

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.