Word Games Pro Dictionary

dire

adjective

Causing fear or dread or terror

Quick reference

Word Facts

Word length
4
Starts with
D
Ends with
E
Contains
IR
Scrabble score
5
CEFR level
B2

How it sounds

Pronunciation

ˈdaɪ̯ə(ɹ)

Listen

Audio Pronunciation

Meaning

Definitions

adjective

  1. Causing fear or dread or terror

    “The awful war”

adjective

  1. Fraught with extreme danger; nearly hopeless

    “A desperate illness”

In context

Example Sentences

The awful war
An awful risk
Dire news
A career or vengeance so direful that London was shocked
The dread presence of the headmaster
A desperate illness
{'source': 'G.C.Marshall', 'text': 'on all fronts the Allies were in a desperate situation due to lack of materiel'}
A dire emergency

Similar words

Synonyms

Check yourself

Practise This Word

Three quick questions on this word. Nothing is recorded — practise it as often as you like.

Scroll to Top