Synonyms of straits

straits

noun

plural of strait

as in distress

a state of great suffering of body or mind

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun straits differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of straits are contingency, crisis, emergency, exigency, juncture, pinch, and strait. 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

When is contingency a more appropriate choice than straits?

The synonyms contingency and straits are sometimes interchangeable, but contingency implies an emergency or exigency that is regarded as possible but uncertain of occurrence.

contingency plans

In what contexts can crisis take the place of straits?

The meanings of crisis and straits largely overlap; however, 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 straits?

In some situations, the words emergency and straits are roughly equivalent. However, emergency applies to a sudden unforeseen situation requiring prompt action to avoid disaster.

the presence of mind needed to deal with emergencies

When might exigency be a better fit than straits?

While in some cases nearly identical to straits, exigency stresses the pressure of restrictions or urgency of demands created by a special situation.

provide for exigencies

When can juncture be used instead of straits?

Although the words juncture and straits have much in common, 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 straits?

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 straits

We have long been taught that energy security is a matter of geography, defined by who owns the land, who controls the straits, and who signs the treaties. —Siddharth Misra, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026

That snap that’s going to trigger those ships to go through the straits. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 6 Mar. 2026

And, frankly, the club probably wouldn’t have ended up in such dire straits without COVID-19. —Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 4 Mar. 2026

Roughly a fifth of the world's LNG, natural gas cooled into liquid form for easier storage and transport, also flows through the straits. —ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026

The remainder of this season will be spent preserving that growth as the forward plunges into the dire straits of navigating a tank job as one of the few players whose future is tied to the rebuild at hand. —Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026

There’s been a lot of discussion about the dire straits of masculinity right now, and how women feel about men’s emotional availability, their ability to be vulnerable without being complete wussies. —Hannah Jocelyn, New Yorker, 16 Jan. 2026

The front will stall out across the Florida straits, which will lead to spotty showers through Tuesday. —Lissette Gonzalez, CBS News, 11 Jan. 2026

Assembly budget advisor Jason Sisney said the state government was in better financial straits than anticipated, citing data from the State Controller’s Office. —Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 8 Jan. 2026