dire

Extremely bad, serious, or frightening.

• The situation is dire.
• Missing the payment could have dire consequences.
• After losing their jobs, they found themselves in dire straits.

Similar words: terrible, dreadful, disastrous

Common phrases: dire consequences, dire straits, dire situation

Needing help or action immediately because the situation is very serious.

• The family is in dire need.
• These children are in dire need of food.
• We sent blankets to people in dire need of warmth.

How to use it: in dire need of something (The village is in dire need of clean water.)

Similar words: urgent, pressing, desperate

Common phrases: dire need, dire necessity, dire need of

Very poor in quality or very badly done.

• The acting was dire.
• We left early because the music was dire.
• That restaurant serves truly dire food.

Similar words: awful, terrible, bad

Opposites: excellent

Common phrases: dire performance, dire acting, dire service

Suggesting that something very bad will happen.

• They saw dire omens in the sky.
• The old woman gave a dire warning.
• His dire prophecy frightened everyone in the village.

Similar words: ominous, foreboding

Opposites: promising

Common phrases: dire omens, dire warnings, dire prophecy