dire
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.
We learn immediately that our protagonist’s situation is dire.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026
“Eventually it’s going to come out that they didn’t de-extinct the dire wolf or the moa,” Lynch says.
From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026
With the situation increasingly dire, Cuba -- for decades targeted in US espionage -- last week took the extraordinary step of welcoming CIA Director John Ratcliffe for talks.
From Barron's • May 19, 2026
For decades, Canada was seen as a global laggard in defence funding, and just two years ago, recruitment was so dire that a former defence minister warned the armed forces were in a "death spiral".
From BBC • May 9, 2026
Countless were the times she had read of people caught in frightening circumstances; when things seemed at their most dire, inevitably these unlucky people would be described as having “a shiver run down their spines.”
From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood
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Vocabulary lists containing dire
The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 2
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"Macbeth" Vocabulary from Act I
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The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!