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
Both committees began accepting applications last year, but their rollout has been mired with delays. — Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026 The French government, which is mired in political deadlock ahead of the country's presidential elections next spring, has yet to show protesters any meaningful concessions. — News Editor, CBS News, 6 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 former taxi driver had been arrested three years earlier after police unearthed a mass grave in a forest ‌near the Indian Ocean town of Malindi, where his followers had been living in mud huts.
    — Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2026
  • In 2023, more than 400 bodies were exhumed from shallow graves on the 800-acre Chakama Ranch in coastal Kilifi County, where Mackenzie’s followers lived in mud huts, away from the scrutiny of local communities and authorities.
    — Evelyne Musambi, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of mud
Noun
  • Before the healing process was complete, however, Scotty died in what scientists believe was a salty marsh.
    — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
  • In Cusk’s first novel after the blockbuster Outline trilogy, a woman invites an artist to stay at her home on a marsh, and things unravel from there.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of marsh
Noun
  • The relentless rain associated with Hurricane Isaias didn’t stop some hikers from venturing onto trails and greenways in North Carolina, leading to life-threatening predicaments, officials say.
    — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Through one dangerous predicament after another, his stunt work reveals a performer who seems entirely comfortable in his own skin.
    — Kristen Lopez, IndieWire, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of predicament
Verb
  • Tips To Keep Your Sink Clean Longer Rinse the sink after every use to get rid of food debris that can cause odors, get rid of soap scum, and reduce staining.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Bookshelves are crammed with novels and almanacs, the wood boards of the ceilings stained dark in delicious contrast to the clean white walls and creamy linen furnishings.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of stain
Verb
  • The friction over editorial decisions, particularly around Israel, has trapped CBS in its own Middle East media war.
    — semafor.com, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The alligator was trapped and killed, Winter Garden Police Chief Michael Mason said.
    — Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 18 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
  • Sauces and pickles checked in the walk-in cooler are at 42 degrees.
    — NWA Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Recently a box showcased sweet, custardy amaebi, salmon belly, chum ikura, uni, toro, Hokkaido hotate, octopus and kizami wasabi adorned with various flowers and pickles.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 17 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 23 Oct. 2026.

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