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
Back in December 2023, the UN’s liquidity crisis got so dire that the Palais was shut down for three whole weeks.
—
Isabelle Mayault, The Dial, 8 July 2025
If the model hallucinates and provides hateful, harmful or toxic recommendations, this impressionable young group may not be able to discern between right and wrong, resulting in dire ramifications.
—Rakshana Balakrishnan, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
And the country has fallen victim to armed gangs, who think nothing of torching homes, schools and hospitals, killing and kidnapping the missionaries who risk their lives to bring hope and comfort to a people in dire need.
—Bea L. Hines, Miami Herald, 4 July 2025
Democrats have described the bill in dire terms, warning that cuts to Medicaid, which some 80 million Americans rely on, would result in lives lost.
—arkansasonline.com, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for dire
Isabelle Mayault, The Dial, 8 July 2025
If the model hallucinates and provides hateful, harmful or toxic recommendations, this impressionable young group may not be able to discern between right and wrong, resulting in dire ramifications.
—Rakshana Balakrishnan, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
And the country has fallen victim to armed gangs, who think nothing of torching homes, schools and hospitals, killing and kidnapping the missionaries who risk their lives to bring hope and comfort to a people in dire need.
—Bea L. Hines, Miami Herald, 4 July 2025
Democrats have described the bill in dire terms, warning that cuts to Medicaid, which some 80 million Americans rely on, would result in lives lost.
—arkansasonline.com, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for dire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dire
Adjective
-
If the sky turns ominous and thunder can be heard, find a secure place for shelter.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
11 July 2025
-
The signs in Iran are ominous—and the pleas from Iranian Jewish elders may now go unheard.—
Roya Hakakian,
The Atlantic,
10 July 2025
Adjective
-
For Bertram, whose family winery has roots deep in the terraced vineyards of the valley, the night was a blur of frantic decisions and terrifying uncertainty.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
13 July 2025
-
But this is still grand blockbuster filmmaking: The scene where bombs explode across Gotham is as memorable and terrifying as anything in the series.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
What's new is the urgent need to respond to a fundamentally different business environment that's more interconnected than ever before.—
Tima Bansal,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
-
The National Weather Service sent urgent alerts about potentially life-threatening danger hours in advance of the flash floods, leaving time to notify and try to evacuate people in harm’s way.—
Jennifer Berry Hawes,
ProPublica,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
Restaurants were closed, staff were furloughed, and the broad outlook on the hospitality industry’s future was, in a word, bleak.—
Lela London,
Forbes.com,
18 July 2025
-
The reversal is notable because this traditionally bleak indicator had been trending more positively under Trump's second term—until now.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 July 2025
Adjective
-
Across the 14-track LP, the producer fuses club beats, acidic bars, and Middle Eastern percussion into a slightly sinister shade of electronica.—
Madison Bloom,
Pitchfork,
18 July 2025
-
Lex outmaneuvers the titular hero for most of Superman, turning the public against him by uncovering the entirety of the sinister message from his Kryptonian parents and orchestrating a political conflict for personal gain.—
Jack Smart,
People.com,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
The Cubs were always going to be a far more formidable opponent than the Nationals and Rockies, against whom the Red Sox collected the first six of their 10-game win streak before the All-Star break.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
20 July 2025
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Meanwhile, the men will be going up against the English juggernaut — a formidable opponent even if some of their star players are currently touring with the British and Irish Lions.—
Vitas Carosella,
Forbes.com,
19 July 2025
Adjective
-
Since then, more than 57,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza, according to Reuters, and millions are suffering from acute malnutrition, starvation and illness.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
12 July 2025
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The number of children admitted for severe acute malnutrition (SAM), the most deadly form of malnutrition, rose by 50 percent from April to May.—
Sarah Ferguson,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Adjective
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That this show could mark a turning point for free speech and the First Amendment is just too depressing to contemplate.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
2 July 2025
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But already there are major depressing effects on the ports and warehousing that are important contributors to California's economy.—
James Bickerton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dire. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.
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