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dire

[ dahyuhr ]
/ daɪər /
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See synonyms for: dire / direst on Thesaurus.com

adjective, dir·er, dir·est.
causing or involving great fear or suffering; dreadful; terrible: a dire calamity.
indicating trouble, disaster, misfortune, or the like: dire predictions about the stock market.
urgent; desperate: in dire need of food.
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Origin of dire

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

OTHER WORDS FROM dire

direly, adverbdireness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use dire in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for dire

dire
/ (daɪə) /

adjective (usually prenominal)
Also: direful disastrous; fearful
desperate; urgenta dire need
foreboding disaster; ominousa dire warning

Derived forms of dire

direly, adverbdireness, noun

Word Origin for dire

C16: from Latin dīrus ominous, fearful; related to Greek deos fear
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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