Need another word for Dire? Use these synonyms of Dire from our thesaurus to say it differently.
Synonyms & Similar Words
alarming
atrocious
awful
calamitous
catastrophic
critical
desperate
disastrous
dreadful
fearful
formidable
frightening
ghastly
grim
hazardous
horrible
menacing
ominous
perilous
severe
shocking
terrible
threatening
unpleasant
woeful
worrying
appalling
distressing
frightful
intense
serious
terrifying
tragic
unpleasant
upsetting
vile
Meaning of Dire
The primary meaning of the word "Dire" is to describe something as extremely bad, serious, or alarming.
Definitions
- Causing or involving great fear or anxiety
- Extremely bad or serious
- Predicting or threatening disaster or danger
- Giving a warning of a possible problem or danger
Etymology of Dire
The word "Dire" originated from Old French "dire", which is derived from Latin "dirus", meaning foul, horrible, or ominous
The word has been used in English since the 15th century to describe something as terrible, disastrous, or calamitous
Example Uses
- The dire warning from the meteorologist predicted a severe storm
- The company is in a dire financial situation and may go bankrupt
- The doctor gave a dire prognosis for the patient's chances of recovery
- The dire circumstances of the refugee camp highlighted the need for urgent aid
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
benign
calm
favorable
gentle
good
harmless
mild
pleasant
promising
reassuring
safe
satisfactory
secure
slight
trivial
unimportant
undamaging
unthreatening
auspicious
beneficial
cheerful
comfortable
deluxe
encouraging
excellent
fine
fortunate
happy
innocuous
minor
moderate
neutral
nice
ordinary
pleasing
positive
propitious
quiet
reassuring
slight
soothing
superb
trivial
unobjectionable