mired

verb

past tense of mire
1
as in stained
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 trapped
to place in conflict or difficulties the case has been mired in probate court for years

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 mired To bring structure and order to a franchise that has been mired in mediocrity. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2026 In 2022, the Dolphins were mired in a five-game losing streak late in the season and somehow found a way to scratch out an ugly victory against the New York Jets, 11-6, in the finale to earn a wildcard playoff berth. — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 24 Sep. 2026 Now, we’re mired in a war in Iran without apparent end, the gulf is blocked and the Red Sea potentially blocked — sending oil prices soaring. — Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 20 Sep. 2026 The United States is losing to one of its worst enemies in a war that has left the American economy mired in the sludge of growing inflation and rising energy prices. — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2026 The Saudis, then mired in a regional cold war with Iran, viewed the Houthis as an Iranian proxy force that threatened the kingdom’s borders. — Kareem Fahim, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2026 The singer's ongoing Loop Tour is mired in chaos after four supporting acts quit in solidarity with rapper Macklemore, who was dropped for making pro-Palestinian comments onstage at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium. — ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026 The Dodgers trudged toward October by clinching their 13th National League West title in 14 years on Thursday, their customary march mired in a quicksand of questions. — Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026 And that third baseman Austin Riley was/is mired in a career-worst slump? — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 16 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mired
  1. stained
  2. trapped
  3. blackened
  4. embroiled
  5. dirtied
  6. tangled
  7. messed
  8. muddied
Verb
  • The prosecutor then showed the jury Daniela’s shirt, which the detective said was stained by brown decomposition fluid, and Julia’s clothing, including her underwear soaked in blood.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Dozens of arrests have been made but so far no one has been convicted in an affair that traumatized Mexico and stained the country's reputation.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of stained
Verb
  • Escarpments were carved into beaches, asphalt rippled on the coastal highway, and tourists like Lester were left trapped.
    — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Rachelle also recalled vividly the experience of being trapped inside the vehicle in the river.
    — Peter Hessler, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of trapped
Verb
  • On Tuesday, a silver cross on a long chain hung from the pine tree’s bark, which was peeling and blackened from the blaze.
    — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • The blaze blackened about 25 acres near the Getty Center before firefighters got the upper hand on it.
    — Tom Tapp, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of blackened
Verb
  • The affair was hardly a secret, and the trio eventually became embroiled in a ménage à trois, eventually living together.
    — George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Aside from Baldoni, Wallace’s other clients have included actress Rebel Wilson, who is now embroiled in her own defamation litigation with Amanda Ghost, a producer on her film The Deb.
    — Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of embroiled
Verb
  • When stormwater dirtied by road runoff, failing septic tanks and fertilizer sullied crystal-clear rivers and lakes, and nobody cared.
    — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2026
  • Garments can be dirtied again by the elements if air-dried outside.
    — Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Dec. 2025
Definition of dirtied
Verb
  • With Indiana holding a 90-79 lead late in the final period, Wilson got tangled up on the hardwood with Fever guard Sophie Cunningham following a physical foul.
    — Alejandro Avila , Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Pawlikowski’s mother and father, also named Zula and Wiktor, whose unmanageable love had kept them tangled and disentangled for decades, took their own lives in 1989, as the Cold War that had cast its chill upon their time was beginning to thaw.
    — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of tangled
Verb
  • Had a couple calls in here that messed it up a little bit, but that’s the game.
    — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 27 Sep. 2026
  • In Argentina, however, the Barras bravas remain a muscular, not-to-be-messed-with presence.
    — James Horncastle, New York Times, 14 July 2026
Definition of messed
Verb
  • Last-minute injury scratches to A’ja Wilson, USA’s leading scorer at the last three major tournaments, and Kelsey Plum muddied things even more.
    — Annie Costabile, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2026
  • And Treasury’s bond-market intervention might have muddied market signals, so Warsh can credibly argue for time.
    — Liz Rappaport, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of muddied

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Cite this Entry

“Mired.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mired. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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