English Explanatory Dictionary

dire

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Warning of bad consequences: ill-boding; portentous.
  2. Requiring action to prevent bad consequences: urgent, pressing.
  3. Expressing bad consequences: dreadful; dismal.
  4. Bad in quality, awful, terrible.
  5. Ferocious and of intimidating appearance, like a dire wolf.
name
  1. A surname.

Pronunciation

/ˈdaɪ̯ə(ɹ)/ en-us-dire.ogg

Word forms

dire direr more dire direst most dire Dires

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin dīrus (“fearful, ominous”).

Synonyms

foreboding inauspicious augurous baleful bodeful boding dire disastrous divine fatal ill-boding ill-fated ill-omened ill-starred inauspicate nefastous omenic ominous brooding portentous presageful presagious prodigious sinister star-crossed sullen acute exigent bad clamant crying sore imperious instant rash severe pressing pressive urgent bleak gloomy cheerless comfortless dark morose depressing desolate disconsolate dismal doleful dolesome drear drearisome dreary dreich forlorn gayless gray gloomsome grim

Related words

voir dire

Derived words

direful direly direness dire sisters diresome dire straits dire wolf in dire straits
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