dire

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But alas I'm not so much an LGBT blogger -- the (functional and dysfunctional) conniptions of heterosexuality being both interesting enough and, more to the point, * dire* enough to keep me busy nearly almost full time.

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Definitions (7)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (2)

  1. adjective Warning of or having dreadful or terrible consequences; calamitous: a dire economic forecast; dire threats.
  2. adjective Urgent; desperate: in dire need; dire poverty.

Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (2)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (1)

Toggle WordNet definitions WordNet (2)

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Examples (50)

  • But alas I'm not so much an LGBT blogger -- the (functional and dysfunctional) conniptions of heterosexuality being both interesting enough and, more to the point, * dire* enough to keep me busy nearly almost full time. —  Figleaf's Real Adult Sex
  • Given that the news from the Corn Ethanol sector is so dire, these developments are very [...] —  GigaOM Network
  • Let's keep in mind that the consequences of not convening the presidential election this year would be dire, and excusing this over 'insecurity or budgetary strain' would be a tough sell. —  Elections - fresh news by plazoo.com
  • WASHINGTON - The president's new science adviser said Wednesday that global warming is so dire, the Obama administration is discussing radical technologies to cool Earth's air.
  • The president's new science adviser says that global warming is so dire, the Obama administration is discussing radical technologies to cool Earth's air. —  KELOLAND.COM: News, Weather and Sports
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This word has been looked up 170 times.

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Related

Roget's II Roget's II: The New Thesaurus

Used in the same context Used in the Same Context

dreadful ·  grievous ·  appal ·  direst ·  disastrous ·  impending ·  overwhelm ·  horrid ·  serious ·  deplorable ·  widespread
Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary. Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Latin dīrus, fearsome, terrible; akin to Greek deinos.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. from Latin dirus, fearful, awful, dreadful, akin to Greek δεινός, fearful, terrible, δειλός, fearful, frightened, δείδειν, F ear, v., δέος, fear.
 

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/daɪr/
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