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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dire
So tell me the dire circumstances that triggered his tariff wars.
—
Lauren Peller, ABC News, 1 Aug. 2025
Fermin gives San Diego a controllable, quality catcher at what was a position of dire need.
—Dennis Lin, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2025
That’s as far as anyone in the panel addressed the film’s parallels to the current dire state of American democracy.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 26 July 2025
Combining some cleaning agents, such as bleach and ammonia, can create toxic fumes that can have dire consequences when inhaled.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for dire
Lauren Peller, ABC News, 1 Aug. 2025
Fermin gives San Diego a controllable, quality catcher at what was a position of dire need.
—Dennis Lin, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2025
That’s as far as anyone in the panel addressed the film’s parallels to the current dire state of American democracy.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 26 July 2025
Combining some cleaning agents, such as bleach and ammonia, can create toxic fumes that can have dire consequences when inhaled.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 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,
16 Aug. 2025
-
The cataclysmic effect of her unexpected arrival suggests that soon her vocabulary will expand to include more such ominous language.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The previous version of the immersive attraction brought guests face to face with the terrifying flickering TV screen, the menacing beast from beyond, and the pool filled with floating corpses.—
Simon Thompson,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
Girlie joins a team of content moderators who are mostly women of color, swiping through terrifying scenes at the company’s offices in Las Vegas for enough money to keep their families afloat.—
Sarah Rose Etter,
The Atlantic,
6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Trump, in the lead-up to his meeting with Putin, repeatedly stressed the need for an urgent, long-lasting ceasefire in the war.—
Erin Doherty,
CNBC,
17 Aug. 2025
-
This research emphasizes the urgent need for stronger safeguards as AI agents become more embedded in business operations.—
Gene Marks,
Forbes.com,
17 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Directed by Paul Schrader with a script by Bret Easton Ellis, this spiritually bleak L.A. drama features Lohan’s most daring performance, and probably the only one that manages to break completely with her childhood and adolescent roles.—
Tom Gliatto,
People.com,
9 Aug. 2025
-
The situation is bleak enough that, even if aid increases rapidly in the coming weeks, deaths from starvation are almost certain to rise.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
For The Fin, his team worked to make the dim light extra grainy, giving it a particularly sinister quality.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Aug. 2025
-
This turns out to be another name for Galactus, a surprisingly scary Marvel villain played with sinister sincerity by Ralph Ineson.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
After decades of battling brutal conditions in the Bering Sea, Hansen, 59, is now facing something even more formidable than icy waves — his own mortality.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon,
FOXNews.com,
13 Aug. 2025
-
Huntington Beach: The Oilers remain formidable with the return of All-County duo of Roxie Shaia and Taylor Savage at quarterback and wide receiver, respectively. 4.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Raids outside Home Depot stores have been particularly acute in California.—
Lawrence Mower,
Miami Herald,
17 Aug. 2025
-
With acute insight and sly humor, Fumio Yamamoto depicts the lives of modern Japanese women in all their complexity.—
Gabrielle Bellot,
Literary Hub,
12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Gambling today, however, is a sad and depressing experience, nothing like my dad’s and my Atlantic City adventure.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
15 Aug. 2025
-
And yet, somehow, the most depressing show on TV—with the exception of any news broadcast, at least—is a reality soap about bougie couples in the suburbs of Los Angeles.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
13 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dire. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share