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- DictionaryDire/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
2I
1R
1E
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