strait

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun strait differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of strait are contingency, crisis, emergency, exigency, juncture, pinch, and straits. While all these words mean "a critical or crucial time or state of affairs," strait, now commonly straits, applies to a troublesome situation from which escape is extremely difficult.

in dire straits

In what contexts can contingency take the place of strait?

In some situations, the words contingency and strait are roughly equivalent. However, contingency implies an emergency or exigency that is regarded as possible but uncertain of occurrence.

contingency plans

When might crisis be a better fit than strait?

The words crisis and strait are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, crisis applies to a juncture whose outcome will make a decisive difference.

a crisis of confidence

When is it sensible to use emergency instead of strait?

The meanings of emergency and strait largely overlap; however, emergency applies to a sudden unforeseen situation requiring prompt action to avoid disaster.

the presence of mind needed to deal with emergencies

Where would exigency be a reasonable alternative to strait?

While the synonyms exigency and strait are close in meaning, exigency stresses the pressure of restrictions or urgency of demands created by a special situation.

provide for exigencies

When would juncture be a good substitute for strait?

The words juncture and strait can be used in similar contexts, but juncture stresses the significant concurrence or convergence of events.

an important juncture in our country's history

How is pinch related to other words for strait?

Pinch implies urgency or pressure for action to a less intense degree than exigency or emergency.

come through in a pinch

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 strait This aerial view taken from a commercial flight shows cargo ships docked along the strait in Singapore on April 7, 2025. Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2025 The strait lies between Russia's Sakhalin Island and Japan's main island of Hokkaido. Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025 By effectively turning global communications cables into acoustic tripwires, militaries may soon be able to detect submarine movements across straits, chokepoints, and critical shipping routes in near real time. Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025 But part of the reason Florida finds itself in such dire straits is because Lagway has struggled, specifically to the tune of a five-to-six touchdown-to-interception ratio. Noah White, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for strait
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strait
Noun
  • The coordinated attack left a local officer shot in the neck.
    Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 27 Oct. 2025
  • In the clip, Lecaillier cuts, tapes and shapes her materials until a wonderfully bonkers ostrich begins to take form — complete with flapping wings and a bobbing neck made from little more than determination and a sense of humor.
    Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Days full of anguish Thousands of miles away from the ICE detention facility in Michigan, Aurelquis Gómez visits her nephew Noah often.
    Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Director Josh Boone will cut to a goofy montage right after a moment when a character is supposed to be mired in anguish.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Stream every snap on top channels like ABC, FOX, NBC, CBS, ESPN, SEC Network, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, FS1, and more.
    Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Comcast One of the world’s biggest telecommunications companies, the conglomerate owns NBCUniversal, which includes film studios such as Universal Pictures and DreamWorks, cable channels such as CNBC and Bravo, as well as Peacock, a streaming platform.
    Melanie Hicken, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • In times of distress and blood loss, the body responds by slowing circulation to our fingers and our toes, preserving blood flow to our heart, and our brain.
    Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Severe or prolonged distress when separated from a parent.
    Melissa Willets, Parents, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The sound of hammering came from outside in the driveway, where some men were building a coffin.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
  • The contract was awarded at a time when the world was racing to field missiles that could change direction while traveling at several times the speed of sound.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Ergofoot Orthopedic Slippers For those on my holiday list who have more sensitive and pain-prone feet, this orthopedic pair stands out from the crowd.
    Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2025
  • According to my friends from STATS Perform, only six other relief pitchers in World Series history can share his pain.
    Jayson Stark, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Place chicken, carrots, celery, bay leaves, bouillon cube, 2 cups of the onions, 2 teaspoons of the salt, and 1 teaspoon of the black pepper in a large stockpot.
    Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2025
  • In the slowly brightening light about a half-hour before sunrise Sunday at Del Mar Racetrack, a jockey wearing a white windbreaker climbed aboard a bay 3-year-old colt for the first time.
    Jay Posner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The wife ushers the two frightened boys behind her, and watches on helplessly as her husband screams in agony and terror, thrashing his arms and legs.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Please, more of Isabella lightly teasing Marty about his tendency to flagellate himself while considering the agony of the human condition.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Strait.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strait. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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