rhizoverbBeta
DictionarydireExtremely serious
adjective

dire

DYE-er/ˈdaɪər/

Extremely serious or terrible.

The rooftop survivors face a dire flood emergency.

A dire flood emergency: two adults stranded on a tiny exposed section of rooftop as violent floodwater reaches the eaves.
Etymology
direLatinfearful, dreadful, boding ill

Latin dirus described something dreadful or boding ill, connecting dire circumstances with fear of terrible consequences. The Latin word’s earlier origin is unknown.

In context

Life Inside3:05
The conditions were so dire that they included torture and in some cases, even death to inmates.
Life Inside INHUMANE Prison Conditions

More examples

  • The hospital was in dire need of supplies.
  • She issued a dire warning.
  • The consequences were dire.

Forms

dire · direr · direst

Similar words

grave
Serious in consequences without necessarily suggesting catastrophe.
desperate
Suggests urgency and little hope of success.