dire
adjective
causing or involving great fear or suffering; dreadful; terrible.
direly
-
a word derived from
dire.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
When Zhu rose to national prominence in the 1990s, China’s economy was adolescent—growing rapidly but direly in need of stewardship.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
School bond supports say the money is direly needed to help fund repairs and upgrades at thousands of California public elementary, middle and high schools and community colleges.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2024
Equipment, including excavators and plows so direly needed now, were sold off.
From Seattle Times ● May 1, 2024
New treatments and therapeutic targets are direly needed for these conditions.
From Science Daily ● Feb. 20, 2024
None of my Sun Maid’s tribe is to be feared, I think, no matter how direly they may threaten.”
From The Sun Maid A Story of Fort Dearborn by Evelyn Raymond
