Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

straits

  • plural
    of strait.
    strait
    noun
    Often straits. a narrow passage of water connecting two large bodies of water.

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.

See Examples For:

For decades, Chinese leaders have worried about the country’s heavy reliance on imported crude, most of which transits through straits that the U.S. or other militaries could seek to block in a conflict.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 29, 2026

But he does stress that the smallest seed of hope is what allows us to maintain our humanity, compassion and desire for companionship, even in the most dire straits.

From Salon ● Aug. 24, 2026

Bye - who has a six-year-old dalmatian, two springer spaniels and a cat - said her family were "financially stable" when they got their pets but a year later were in "dire straits".

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026

There is no indication that either insurer is in such dire straits.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026

I would be in the direst of dire straits, facing a bleak future, when some small thing, some detail, would transform itself and appear in my mind in a new light.

From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel