dire straits

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.

Though not in dire straits, it isn’t exactly healthy, either.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 21, 2026

From 91-9, England were in dire straits but, just as they had with the ball, Atkinson and Tongue combined with the bat.

From BBC • Dec. 26, 2025

Storm-ravaged communities in western Jamaica were facing dire straits Sunday, days after record-setting Hurricane Melissa left towns demolished and at least 28 people dead across the island.

From Barron's • Nov. 2, 2025

Still, Wu said, those facing dire straits due to the shutdown should prioritize essential needs like their mortgage or rent over immediate credit preservation.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 31, 2025

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