English adjective: dire | |||
1. | dire fraught with extreme danger; nearly hopeless | ||
Samples | A desperate illness. On all fronts the Allies were in a desperate situation due to lack of materiel. A dire emergency. | ||
Synonyms | desperate | ||
Similar | critical | ||
Antonyms | noncritical, noncrucial | ||
2. | dire causing fear or dread or terror | ||
Samples | The awful war. An awful risk. Dire news. A career or vengeance so direful that London was shocked. The dread presence of the headmaster. Polio is no longer the dreaded disease it once was. A dreadful storm. A fearful howling. Horrendous explosions shook the city. A terrible curse. | ||
Synonyms | awful, direful, dread, dreaded, dreadful, fearful, fearsome, frightening, horrendous, horrific, terrible | ||
Similar | alarming | ||
Antonyms | unalarming | ||