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   Dire

   /ˈdī(ə)r/

   

   adjective

   • 1. (of a situation or event) extremely serious or urgent: "dire consequences" Similar terribledreadfulappallingfrightfulawfulhorribleatrociousgrimunspeakabledistressingharrowingalarmingshockingoutrageousgraveseriousgrievousdisastrousruinouscalamitouscatastrophiccataclysmicdevastatingcripplingmiserablewretchedwoefulhopelessirretrievableinformal:lousychronicliterary:direfularchaic, humorous:parlousurgentdesperatepressingcryingsoregraveseriousextremeacutedrasticcriticalcrucialvitalOpposite goodmild
   • ▪ (of a warning or threat) presaging disaster: "dire warnings about breathing the fumes" Similar ominousportentousgloomydoom and gloomsinistergrimdreadfuldismalunpropitiousinauspiciousunfavorablepessimisticOpposite encouraging

   Word Origin mid 16th century: from Latin dirus ‘fearful, threatening’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. direly adverb
   • 2. direness noun

   Scrabble Points: 5

   • D

     2

   • I

     1

   • R

     1

   • E

     1

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