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

If Walter is in dire financial and legal straits, the NBA might feel urgency to part ways with him before his own chickens potentially come home to roost. — Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

There is no indication that either insurer is in such dire straits. — Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026

In desperate financial straits, Sutter sold parcels of land to various settlers and entrepreneurs looking to cash in on the Gold Rush, Clio said. — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 15 Aug. 2026

The new cohort of LatAm petrostates is emerging as an OPEC counterweight the US can’t afford to neglect, especially since its barrels don’t have to move through any dangerous straits. — Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 11 Aug. 2026

Related Stories Bankrupted by the financial crisis, a Montevideo veterinarian is pushed to desperate straits and doesn’t have enough money to eat. — Ed Meza, Variety, 10 Aug. 2026

Saudi crude oil and refined petroleum product exports are also hindered by attacks on shipping through the Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb straits. — Amy Myers Jaffe, The Conversation, 4 Aug. 2026

Enbridge wants to bury the pipeline in a tunnel under the straits. — Jeffrey Collins, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026

Trump has said that one of his reasons for taking over the Kennedy Center was due to its dire financial straits, but when asked about that assessment Tuesday, Folds said that was not the case. — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 21 July 2026