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
The situation at safety is particularly dire.
—
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
Tim’s view No matter what happens in the Strait of Hormuz, one legacy of the Iran war will have been to lay bare the dire need for energy-importing countries to build new buffers from volatile global markets.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 14 Apr. 2026
According to a Facebook post from the Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center, shared on Tuesday, April 7, the facility was contacted by a neighboring animal control in Wilkes-Barre about a large number of birds living in dire conditions.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
People were already dealing with inflation, shortages and blackouts, and the shortage has exacerbated an already dire situation.
—Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dire
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
Tim’s view No matter what happens in the Strait of Hormuz, one legacy of the Iran war will have been to lay bare the dire need for energy-importing countries to build new buffers from volatile global markets.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 14 Apr. 2026
According to a Facebook post from the Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center, shared on Tuesday, April 7, the facility was contacted by a neighboring animal control in Wilkes-Barre about a large number of birds living in dire conditions.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
People were already dealing with inflation, shortages and blackouts, and the shortage has exacerbated an already dire situation.
—Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dire
Adjective
-
The biggest difference between Mythos and previous AI models was its ability to autonomously exploit vulnerabilities, an ominous new facet of the industry’s transition towards agentic models.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The team of astronomers credited for Apophis' discovery – David Tholen, Fabrizio Bernardi and the late Roy Tucker – were also responsible for coming up with the asteroid's ominous name.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Some of his acts are dangerous or terrifying.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
-
In 1972, Ann-Margret fell 22 feet from a stage during a performance — a terrifying moment that could have ended her career.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon,
FOXNews.com,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Later, as Mercury joins Mars, conversations speed up and action feels urgent.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Lawmakers issue urgent warnings.—
Dan Romito,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
That’s partly because their bleak ending feels like a foregone conclusion from the start, even as Levinson’s frequently funny script crackles with comic depravity.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
10 Apr. 2026
-
While the subject matter is bleak, Almodóvar balances the darkness with a tenderness and sensitivity that comes from a career of exploring women's lives at their most intimate.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Needless to say, something very sinister and deadly lies at the end of their path.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The author, known for sinister tales like The Whistler and Sisters of the Lost Nation, has built a reputation for reinventing classic horror tropes by weaving in Native American folklore and stories passed down from his grandmother, an elder of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana.—
Angelique Brenes,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Housed in a building with a dimpled façade that many say looks like a cheese grater, the Broad houses the collection of Edythe Broad, who accumulated a formidable cache of contemporary art with her late husband Eli.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Homages to Chile’s formidable troika are among the record 10 the festival has planned for this edition, said festival director Estrella Araiza.—
Anna Marie de la Fuente,
Variety,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
More than this many people face acute hunger, according to the World Food Program.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
In Baltimore, where economic disparities are more acute, the consequences are magnified.—
Brian Walter,
Baltimore Sun,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Take 25 Hours, in Long Island City, for example, which is freighted with a depressing ambience that is equal parts chemistry lab and subterranean grotto.—
Vince Aletti,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Dede Ayite’s costume design nails each character, from Catherine’s slouchy, depressing sweats-and-flannels to Claire’s chic, New York casual-glam.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dire. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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