Synonyms for dire
daɪərdire

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. dire

   Awful should not be used of things which are merely disagreeable or annoying, nor of all that are alarming and terrible, but only of such as bring a solemn awe upon the soul, as in the presence of a superior power; as, the awful hush before the battle. That which is awful arouses an oppressive, that which is august an admiring reverence; we speak of the august presence of a mighty monarch, the awful presence of death. We speak of an exalted station, a grand mountain, an imposing presence, a majestic cathedral, a noble mien, a solemn litany, a stately march, an august assembly, the awful scene of the Judgment Day.

   Synonyms:
   alarming, appalling, august, awful, direful, dread, dreadful, fearful, frightful, grand, horrible, imposing, majestic, noble, portentous, shocking, solemn, stately, terrible, terrific

   Antonyms:
   base, beggarly, commonplace, contemptible, despicable, humble, inferior, lowly, mean, paltry, undignified, vulgar

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. desperate, direadjective

   fraught with extreme danger; nearly hopeless

   "a desperate illness"; "on all fronts the Allies were in a desperate situation due to lack of materiel"- G.C.Marshall; "a dire emergency"

   Synonyms:
   dread(a), fearful, dreaded, terrible, do-or-die(a), horrendous, fearsome, horrific, heroic, desperate, awful, frightening, despairing, direful, dreadful

   Antonyms:
   unalarming, noncritical, noncrucial

2. awful, dire, direful, dread(a), dreaded, dreadful, fearful, fearsome, frightening, horrendous, horrific, terribleadjective

   causing fear or dread or terror

   "the awful war"; "an awful risk"; "dire news"; "a career or vengeance so direful that London was shocked"; "the dread presence of the headmaster"; "polio is no longer the dreaded disease it once was"; "a dreadful storm"; "a fearful howling"; "horrendous explosions shook the city"; "a terrible curse"

   Antonyms:
   noncrucial, noncritical, unalarming

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:1.0 / 1 vote

1. direadjective

   Synonyms:
   dreadful, fearful, direful, shocking, terrible, horrid, horrible, awful, terrific, tremendous

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "dire":

   terrible, disastrous, desperate, appalling, serious, calamitous, dreadful, tragic, catastrophic, extreme, horrific, horrendous, horrible, difficult, severe, grave, awful, painful, dramatic, grim, pressing, hopeless, urgent, baleful, bleak, devastating

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How to use dire in a sentence?

1. The ICRC:

   It is an immense relief that some civilians who have suffered for weeks are now out, the ICRC hasn't forgotten the people who are still there, nor those in other areas affected by the hostilities or those in dire need of humanitarian relief, wherever they are. We will not spare any effort to reach them.

2. Jay Sekulow:

   You've now heard from legal scholars from a variety of schools of thought, from a variety of political backgrounds, but they do have a common theme with a dire warning -- danger, danger, danger, these articles must be rejected.

3. John Sopko:

   While I agree, and we all agree Afghanistan faces a dire humanitarian and economic situation, it is critical that our assistance not be diverted by the Taliban, unfortunately, as I sit here today, I can not assure this committee or the American taxpayer we are not currently funding the Taliban.

4. Ankit Panda:

   In practical terms, there’s a disconnect between North Korea’s dire internal economic situation and this ambitious nuclear and military modernisation agenda.

5. Mick Mulvaney:

   The president is very much aware of the realities presented by our national debt, america's booming economy will create increased government revenues — an important step toward long-term fiscal sustainability. But this fiscal picture is a blunt warning to Congress of the dire consequences of irresponsible and unnecessary spending.