Synonyms of strait

strait

noun

1

as in neck

a narrow body of water between two land masses

as the ship headed east through the Strait of Gibraltar, Spain was on our left and Africa on our right

Synonyms & Similar Words

• neck
• channel
• sound
• bay
• gulf
• roads
• narrows
• inlet
• stretch
• arm
• reach
• roadstead

2

as in anguish

often straits plural a state of great suffering of body or mind

in great straits over the loss of her mother's cherished necklace

Synonyms & Similar Words

• anguish
• distress
• pain
• agony
• sorrow
• sadness
• misery
• rack
• tribulation
• torture
• woe
• hurt
• cross
• torment
• excruciation
• travail
• affliction
• crucible
• discomfort
• hardship
• emergency
• unhappiness
• heartbreak
• heartache
• danger
• trial
• stitch
• pinch
• difficulty
• ache
• pang
• jeopardy
• soreness
• trouble
• joylessness
• asperity
• throe
• twinge
• rigor
• smarting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• relief
• ease
• consolation
• comfort
• solace
• security
• peace
• alleviation
• assuagement
• well-being

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

Recent Examples of strait

This has included more frequent air and naval crossings over the centerline of the strait, multiple live-fire encirclement exercises to simulate a blockade scenario, unprecedented missile tests over the island, and regular intrusions of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone. —Philip H. Gordon, Foreign Affairs, 22 Sep. 2025

Enbridge refused to comply with the shutdown order and has taken the battle into the courts while continuing to send petroleum products through the pipeline across the straits. —Mike Shriberg, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2025

After a period of wild and mostly erratic spending under Farhad Moshiri’s ownership left them in dire financial straits, the club are trying to rebuild cautiously under the Friedkin Group. —Oliver Kay, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2025

Both countries' navies often use international straits off Japan's coastline for deployments to the wider Pacific. —Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025