dire

[dahy^uhr]

adjective

direr, direst 

1. causing or involving great fear or suffering; dreadful; terrible.

   a dire calamity.

2. indicating trouble, disaster, misfortune, or the like.

   dire predictions about the stock market.

3. urgent; desperate.

   in dire need of food.

dire

/ daɪə /

adjective

1. Also: direful. disastrous; fearful

2. desperate; urgent

   a dire need

3. foreboding disaster; ominous

   a dire warning

Other Word Forms

• direly adverb
• direness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of dire¹

First recorded in 1560–70, dire is from the Latin word dīrus fearful, unlucky

Word History and Origins

Origin of dire¹

C16: from Latin dīrus ominous, fearful; related to Greek deos fear

Example Sentences

The country's most successful political party, when it comes to winning elections, finds itself in a position as dire as it is unprecedented.

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Acknowledging the Conservatives' dire opinion poll ratings and recent local election losses, she said voters were "still angry" with her party.

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“I’m calling it what it is,” said Barger, noting that school districts across the state now find themselves in similarly dire financial straits.

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Several firms were already in dire financial straits.

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The party had lost 10 million votes between the 2019 general election and 2024 and its dire opinion poll ratings appeared to be in free fall, he told them.

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Related Words

• alarming 
• appalling 
• awful 
• calamitous 
• cataclysmic 
• catastrophic 
• depressing 
• disastrous 
• dismal 
• distressing www.thesaurus.com
• dreadful 
• gloomy 
• grim 
• horrible 
• lamentable 
• shocking 
• ugly 
• unfortunate