1
as in ominous
being or showing a sign of evil or calamity to come
a dire forecast of a plunge in stock prices
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in terrifying
causing fear
a series of dire tremors that hinted at a huge volcanic eruption
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in urgent
needing immediate attention
a dire need for food and medicine in the famine-stricken country
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in bleak
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer
with stock prices steadily falling, these are dire days on the trading floor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dire
And people wrote letters to the courts saying wage garnishment would exacerbate their already dire financial situations.
—
Rae Ellen Bichell, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2025
The situation in Smiths Land is so dire at the moment that Morrissey recently proposed selling his share in the band.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 29 Sep. 2025
Also in March — to a rising din of dire prognostications about De Luca and Abdy’s tenure as co-chairpersons/chief executives — Warner punted the release of One Battle After Another (from the financial doldrums of August into its current date smack in the middle of the awards-season scrum).
—Chris Lee, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2025
Without intervention, Tennessee's backlog of forensic evidence testing is likely to only get more dire, according to a new report by the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations.
—Kirsten Fiscus, Nashville Tennessean, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dire
Rae Ellen Bichell, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2025
The situation in Smiths Land is so dire at the moment that Morrissey recently proposed selling his share in the band.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 29 Sep. 2025
Also in March — to a rising din of dire prognostications about De Luca and Abdy’s tenure as co-chairpersons/chief executives — Warner punted the release of One Battle After Another (from the financial doldrums of August into its current date smack in the middle of the awards-season scrum).
—Chris Lee, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2025
Without intervention, Tennessee's backlog of forensic evidence testing is likely to only get more dire, according to a new report by the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations.
—Kirsten Fiscus, Nashville Tennessean, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dire
Adjective
-
Lately, some employees are noticing an ominous trend in their career trajectories.—
Sophie Caldwell,
CNBC,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The Giants tanked immediately after acquiring a high-profile superstar with a nine-figure contract, which was inexplicable, unexpected and ominous.—
Grant Brisbee,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The device sounded terrifying – an apparently new, nuclear capable IRBM, fired with multiple conventional warheads, that the Kremlin boasted could rip through European defenses.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
30 Sep. 2025
-
He’s supposed to be a terrifying mirror to our discontent.—
Emily Temple
September 30,
Literary Hub,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Those lessons are more urgent than ever, as AI takes over tasks but leaves us with the harder, more important work – deciding, judging, being accountable.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Continue reading … DIGITAL DARKNESS – Taliban plunges Afghanistan into darkness as UN issues urgent warning.—
,
FOXNews.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
These days, things are pretty bleak at the old mall, which has many vacancies, is startlingly empty of shoppers and appears slated for redevelopment.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Given that such advances are what fuel economic growth and well-being, the future prospects for our economy — and our country in general — become far more bleak.—
Sheldon Jacobson,
Twin Cities,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Unfortunately, things take a sinister turn when Laura's followers enter the room, undress, and begin passing the baby around.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Sep. 2025
-
What starts as a strained father-daughter relationship soon evolves into something far more sinister.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Technological challenges also proved formidable, as ambitious projects like Sealab failed.—
Danny Robb,
JSTOR Daily,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Ong will discuss the strategies and creative principles behind the media giant’s approach to leveraging its formidable library of IP in the gaming world.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The recent exodus represents an acute brain drain.—
Jon Lee Anderson,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Concerns and anxieties are particularly acute for researchers with ties to China, the country that has long sent more science and engineering PhD students to the US than any other.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
His 300th was in a depressing environment — at an empty stadium, in the first game of a seven-inning doubleheader in 2020.—
Sam Blum,
New York Times,
21 Sep. 2025
-
The revelation is as depressing as a leverage penalty.—
Joe Nguyen,
Denver Post,
21 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dire. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.
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