mire 1 of 2

noun

ˈmī(-ə)r How to pronounce mire (audio)
Definition of mirenext
1
as in mud
soft wet earth played on a football field that was thick with mire

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2
as in marsh
spongy land saturated or partially covered with water much of the land in that area is mire that cannot be developed

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3
as in predicament
a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape an abused wife who was hopelessly stuck in a mire of emotional dependency

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mire

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to stain
to make dirty the sight of the standard, which had emerged from the battle mangled and mired, still stirred the soldiers' hearts

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to trap
to place in conflict or difficulties the case has been mired in probate court for years

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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 mire
Noun
The team found a major levoglucosan peak centered around 1128 CE, coinciding with a similar peak recorded from the Schwarzboden mire peat core, another important reservoir of atmospheric history sampled about 12 miles southeast of Weißseespitze. — Nidhi Sharma, Popular Science, 13 Mar. 2026 You're then left with a low-profile tow-anywhere trailer that wants nothing more than to grab hold of your favorite bikes and splash through mud and mire, hell and high water, to get you to your favorite trails, jumps and whoops. — New Atlas, 6 Mar. 2026
Verb
But the project has been mired in disputes between the two countries and internal conflict between the central government in Iraq and the semi-autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan region. — Jane Arraf, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026 While Good Good Golf and Callaway are mired in the controversy, another brand is turning it into its marketing punch line. — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mire
  1. mud
  2. marsh
  3. predicament
  4. stain
  5. trap
  6. swamp
  7. pickle
  8. muck
Noun
  • This comes after a partial glacier collapse in the Himalayan mountains unleashed a sudden surge of water, mud, and debris that swept through border crossings, valley communities, and hydropower projects on August 26.
    — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The spectacle of a powerful, disruptive woman changed into the spectacle of a woman running, crying and screaming, and the woman isn’t self-possessed in beautiful makeup and clothing but falling down in the mud.
    — Marlow Stern, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of mud
Noun
  • Along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the historic route connected waterfront communities that were once separated by rivers, bays, and marshes, creating a new way for travelers to experience the region’s seafood, architecture, and maritime traditions.
    — Abby Price, Travel + Leisure, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Black rat snakes occupy an expansive range of habitats, from swamps and marshes to forests and fields.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of marsh
Noun
  • On the screen, in a series of daredevil adventures, the actor had extricated himself from a hundred impossible predicaments.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • For Tinubu and his chief adversaries Atiku and Obi, then, Nigeria’s security predicament will require more than election season sloganeering.
    — Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of predicament
Verb
  • Several others said the incident has stained India’s credibility and the Hindu religion.
    — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2026
  • That one throw, aided by some controversial officiating, helped Michigan avoid a loss that would have stained its entire season.
    — Austin Meek, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of stain
Verb
  • Coxon argued that corporate competition has trapped labs in a hubristic race that forces them to build dangerous systems first.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Markets seem trapped in a cycle of Iran tensions leading to higher oil prices, which leads to stocks moving lower and ultimately inflation concerns rising.
    — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of trap
Noun
  • Black rat snakes occupy an expansive range of habitats, from swamps and marshes to forests and fields.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Sep. 2026
  • If a group chat has become a swamp of half-answers and reaction icons, step in with a quick summary.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of swamp
Noun
  • Without natto, miso soup, and pickles, my breakfast does not feel complete.
    — Michiko Tomioka, CNBC, 5 Sep. 2026
  • In the book’s 16 central chapters, Roden wanders from central categories such as yogurt, egg dishes, breads and pickles, showing how the countries of this region prepare stunning variations of common foodstuffs.
    — Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of pickle
Verb
  • He's been mucking about with them for going on 60 years, and decided to enter the contest for the first time in 2025.
    — Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register, 13 Aug. 2026
  • But a second straight dud season would really muck things up.
    — Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Definition of muck

Browse Nearby Words

mirages
mire
mired
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Cite this Entry

“Mire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mire. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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