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
Know More The socialist organization is now mired in procedural infighting. — J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 21 Oct. 2026 Yet its cities are mired in chaos and flames as protesters decry the lack of government funding for education. — Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 20 Oct. 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
  • The Hummer was found caked with mud, which Parker’s mother and sister said earlier this year was unusual and not from the driveway of the home that Parker shared with her mother.
    — Annie Martin, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Neeley said the floodwaters were receding but left mud and silt, much of which has been contaminated with sewage because of failures at waste plants.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of mud
Noun
  • Viewed from the waters of Turner Creek, a serpentine tributary east of Savannah, the dock stretches so far across the marsh that even those with 20-20 vision must squint to see where planking meets terra firma.
    — Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Before the healing process was complete, however, Scotty died in what scientists believe was a salty marsh.
    — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of marsh
Noun
  • In other circumstances, there might be a conversation to be had on whether any such windfall should be pumped into the ordinary budget, given the city’s crummy financial predicament.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Rewarding loyal users Mature apps with longtime subscribers, initially drawn in through low prices and reliable features, face a predicament.
    — Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of predicament
Verb
  • The armpits of the Quran shirt are stained with centuries-old sweat.
    — Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
  • In 2005, a vote-buying scheme known as Mensalão led to the conviction of senior PT figures and stained the party’s image.
    — Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of stain
Verb
  • This year, heavensouls dropped westside trapped, a showcase of plundersymphonic finesse and a tribute to Nigerian beats.
    — Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The 18-story building collapsed Friday in a busy commercial street of the capital Nairobi, trapping construction workers and people reportedly inside shops on the ground and basement floors that had been illegally occupied.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of trap
Noun
  • South Carolina went into the swamp and beat the Gators 38-19.
    — David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The bog and its cousins the swamp and marsh have always occupied a certain niche in popular culture, but more recently these landscapes are enjoying broader appeal.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of swamp
Noun
  • Most ingredients, including pickles and dressings, are made in-house.
    — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Both bentos come with a sweet and salty cabbage salad, a slab of rice, crunchy green pickles, and a slice of orange.
    — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of pickle
Verb
  • Why, then, with so much at stake in November, would one of Pelosi‘s last acts before retirement be mucking about in the elbow-throwing, bone-crunching race between the two San Francisco Democrats vying to succeed her in January?
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
  • 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
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 1 Nov. 2026.

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