mire

[mahy^uhr]

noun

1. a tract or area of wet, swampy ground; bog; marsh.

2. ground of this kind, as wet, slimy soil of some depth or deep mud.

verb (used with object)

mired, miring 

1. to plunge and fix in mire; cause to stick fast in mire.

2. to involve; entangle.

3. to soil with mire; bespatter with mire.

verb (used without object)

mired, miring 

1. to sink and stick in mire or mud.

mire

/ maɪə /

noun

1. a boggy or marshy area

2. mud, muck, or dirt

verb

1. to sink or cause to sink in a mire

2. (tr) to make dirty or muddy

3. (tr) to involve, esp in difficulties

Other Word Forms

• mired adjective
• miriness noun
• miry adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mire¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Old Norse mȳrr “bog”; cognate with Old English mēos moss

Word History and Origins

Origin of mire¹

C14: from Old Norse mӯrr; related to _moss

Example Sentences

However since then the group has been mired in factional in-fighting including a row over the handling of £800,000 of donations.

Read more on BBC

The Welsh rugby team, with new coach Steve Tandy installed after Gatland's disastrous second spell in charge, are now mired in a run of poor results.

Read more on Barron's

Nio’s stock is mired in its longest losing streak in almost two years as the company’s earnings report draws near — and brings the electric-vehicle maker closer to a self-imposed profit deadline.

Read more on MarketWatch

While I, Lady Constance Ashton, will be forced to trudge through muck—and mire—and—poor people!”

Read more on Literature

China's real estate sector has been mired in a debt crisis since 2020, having enjoyed a decades-long construction boom powered by rapid urbanisation and rising living standards.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• bog down 
• embroil 
• enmesh 
• ensnare 
• entangle 
• flounder 
• implicate 
• involve 
• stick 
• tangle 
• trap