dire
Translation
dire, terrible, urgent
Examples
The company is in dire financial trouble.
The company is in dire financial trouble.
They are in dire need of help.
They are in dire need of help.
Grammar Patterns
dire ((noun)) (used as an adjective before a noun) The country is in dire straits.
in dire need of ((sth.)) to need (sth.) urgently They are in dire need of food.
Similar Words
Synonyms: terrible, dreadful, awful, desperate; Antonyms: mild, good
Etymology
From Latin 'dirus' meaning 'fearful, awful'.
Memory Tips
It sounds like 'die-er'. If a situation is 'dire', you might be in danger of dying.