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
Database source
OEWN 2025 Core

How it sounds

Pronunciation

ˈdaɪ̯ə(ɹ)

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Audio Pronunciation

Audio pronunciation is unavailable for this word.

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

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