dire
adjective
causing or involving great fear or suffering; dreadful; terrible.
direness
-
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.
The new information lends texture to the direness of that situation, perhaps more useful to future historians than current military planners.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 10, 2023
Case managers also have opportunities to press for housing for people when they feel the survey score isn’t properly reflecting the direness of their situation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 28, 2023
That warranted an extremely critical fire weather alert by the National Weather Service, which was really an understatement for the direness of the situation.
From Slate ● Nov. 16, 2018
Her parents didn’t realize the direness of her situation.
From Washington Times ● Feb. 24, 2018
There were men working among the wreckage, directing each other with guttural disparaging cries, moving efficiently yet slowly, as if the direness of the damage had made them lose all heart.
From The Judge by Rebecca West
