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

• direness noun
• direly adverb

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

Flummoxed by the level of financial waste and the dire situation Victoria’s brand faced, Belhassen initially resolved to tell Victoria “no.”

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Given the increasingly dire warnings about artificial intelligence, however, they might also be likened to a cage.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Such well-established shows stand in contrast to what writers, directors, agents and producers in the U.S. and Israel describe as an increasingly dire situation for Israeli content.

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“There is such dire need and demand for speed while maintaining quality, which is impossible without automation,” said Ariel Winton-Jones, general partner with the Aligned Fund.

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But already Labour members are privately grumbling that if results in local elections in Wales and Scotland next May are dire, it could trigger a possible leadership challenge.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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