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dire
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- pronunciation:
- daIr
- features:
- Word Combinations (adjective)
| part of speech: |
adjective |
| inflections: |
direr, direst |
| definition 1: |
causing, likely to cause, or involving terror or suffering.
She knew that getting caught would have dire consequences.The fire was a dire event for the families who lost their homes.- synonyms:
- dreadful, fearful, frightful, horrible, terrible
- similar words:
- atrocious, awful, dread, ghastly, grim, horrid
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| definition 2: |
terrible or urgent.
After the earthquake, many people were in dire need of medical care.- synonyms:
- critical, desperate, extreme, severe, terrible
- similar words:
- dangerous, fearful, grave, urgent, vital
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| related words: |
bad, severe, tough, tragic, violent |
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| derivations: |
direly (adv.), direness (n.) |
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