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DIRE
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Causing fear or dread or terror
Example:
a terrible curse
Synonyms:
awful; dire; direful; dread; dreaded; dreadful; fearful; fearsome; frightening; horrendous; horrific; terrible
Classified under:
Similar:
alarming (frightening because of an awareness of danger)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Fraught with extreme danger; nearly hopeless
Example:
a dire emergency
Synonyms:
desperate; dire
Classified under:
Similar:
critical (being in or verging on a state of crisis or emergency)
