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
For Solnit, a prolific essayist, author, and activist who is very much concerned about the current direction of the country and the world, the positive advances of recent history hold promise for fighting our way out of the mire. — Literary Hub, 5 Mar. 2026 Train on the Island operates at both extremes, as the New Zealand singer-songwriter wades through a mire of childhood memories, incels, and encounters with John Cale. — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 23 Mar. 2026
Verb
Congress left town this week mired in disagreement over how to balance the president’s election obsession with other pressing priorities, including the annual defense-spending bill. — Toluse Olorunnipa, The Atlantic, 4 July 2026 Nagelsmann’s detractors say his decisions are mired by a lack of communication, tactical cohesion and understanding of dressing-room politics, much the same as his time at Bayern. — Chris Evans, Forbes.com, 30 June 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
  • Doing this reportedly required understanding the molecular structure of mud.
    — Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 2 July 2026
  • The pigs that would soon enough become lunch lazed in the compost-pile mud in front of a five-star-hotel-worthy view of the Cretan Sea.
    — Shannon McMahon, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 July 2026
Definition of mud
Noun
  • Of course, there’s an aesthetic component to the National Park Service’s selection of land, too, as the landscapes range from wetlands and wildlife refuges to marshes.
    — Josh Laskin, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026
  • Businesses impacted by sewer overflow The Great Marsh Shellfish Company is nestled in the marshes along the Rowley River.
    — Mike Sullivan, CBS News, 29 June 2026
Definition of marsh
Noun
  • The combination of Olise’s footwork and Mbappé’s speed creates a don’t-know-where-to-turn predicament for France’s opponents.
    — Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 3 July 2026
  • Potential romantic entanglement aside, these two have seriously different perspectives on Paula’s predicament.
    — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 1 July 2026
Definition of predicament
Verb
  • Semi-sheer, marbled accent nails look like they’ve been stained with blackberry juice.
    — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 29 June 2026
  • Dressing up for warmer weather can be a challenge since plush fabrics like silk can easily stain and aren’t as breathable.
    — Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 26 June 2026
Definition of stain
Verb
  • Made from 100 percent cotton, these pants feel soft against your skin and won’t trap heat.
    — Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2026
  • If trapped by moving water, seek the highest possible point and contact emergency services by calling 911.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of trap
Noun
  • As whole house fans and swamp coolers can suck additional pollutants inside, the department recommends using air purifiers or air conditioners as alternatives when possible.
    — Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
  • Some of the most important pollinator plants in Connecticut include bee balm, buttonbush, columbine, geranium, goldenrod, highbush blueberry, New England aster, New Jersey tea and swamp milkweed.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 29 June 2026
Definition of swamp
Noun
  • Here, instead of the mustard that’s included in many classic potato salad recipes, sour cream, vinegar, and briny pickles team up to lend a lovely amount of tartness to cut through the richness of the potatoes, eggs, and mayo.
    — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 July 2026
  • On one half of each pita bread, arrange some crunchy lettuce leaves, a slice of gouda and two pickle slices, followed by one thick tomato slab and two more pickle slices.
    — Laura Mclively, Mercury News, 3 July 2026
Definition of pickle
Verb
  • The Socceroos will try their best to muck it up and play a very defensive brand of soccer against America, while also boasting a great goalkeeper in Matthew Ryan.
    — Austin Perry, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026
  • But Ehlers has given Carolina a newfound level of offensive depth, especially given he’s meshed surprisingly well with Jordan Staal and Jordan Martinook, two veteran checkers who have been mucking and grinding for years on a team that does that better than anyone.
    — James Mirtle, New York Times, 24 May 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 8 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of mire for Spanish Speakers

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