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

To be sure, many of its rinks were in dire financial straits when Black Bear purchased them and might not have stayed open otherwise. —Kenny Jacoby, USA Today, 7 May 2026

The program has hit dire straits in recent years, with many counties freezing enrollment or opening waitlists. —Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 4 May 2026

Fossil fuels tie every economy to the same fragile web of pipelines, tankers, and narrow straits. —Jennifer Granholm, semafor.com, 30 Apr. 2026

However, the Cavaliers would have been in dire straits Wednesday night without Dennis Schroder. —ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026

Due to financial straits brought about by the pandemic, industry guidelines surrounding institutional collections were relaxed, paving the way for museums to use money gained from art sales not solely for acquiring more art but rather for care of existing collections. —Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 29 Apr. 2026

Trump reportedly defended the blockade and rejected an Iranian offer to open the straits and continue the ceasefire while resuming nuclear talks. —Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 29 Apr. 2026

Iran’s economy was in dire straits before the conflict. —Hira Humayun, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2026

Vivian Balakrishnan, the foreign minister of Singapore, has said passage through the Malacca and Singapore straits must remain free and open, stressing that the city-state does not support efforts to restrict navigation or impose new costs on vessels using the route. —Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 24 Apr. 2026