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

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

In Squid Game, one of the most original and bingeable drama series in recent years, 456 people in deep financial straits are invited to participate in a secret game made up of a series of children’s competitions, and the punishment for the losers is death. —Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Jan. 2026

Nessel filed her own action in 2019 seeking to void the easement in the straits. —CBS News, 18 Dec. 2025

On both sides of the Florida straits, the family members suffered suicides, hurricanes, and dementia, adding to the book’s emotional atmosphere of physical decay, romantic anguish, and irredeemable regrets. —Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025

Financial strains are pushing more Americans into delinquency, according to a report from TransUnion, with student loan borrowers in particularly dire straits following the end of the federal loan forgiveness program. —Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025

Another woman takes her kids to see a beautiful house that seems too good to be true—and nearly sends more than $1,100 to a scammer who preys on renters in dismal straits. —The Atlantic, 4 Dec. 2025

In addition to battling health repercussions, many traders are in dire financial straits. —Bella Webb, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2025

Merit filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on July 2, 2025, after running into financial straits. —Todd Spangler, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025