dire

/ˈdaɪə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdaɪər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈdī(-ə)r/ (ame, mw)

dire — adjective

  • direpositive
  • dirercomparative
  • direstsuperlative

1. so serious, dangerous, or difficult that action is needed at once

1.形容詞C1
釋義

so serious, dangerous, or difficult that action is needed at once

例句

Madison read the dire weather report and moved the children indoors.

collocation: dire weather report

After the fire, the town hospital was in dire need of clean water.

phrase: in dire need of + noun

同義詞
  • serious

    broader and weaker; serious problems do not always demand immediate action

  • critical

    often used in medical or technical settings where the risk level is being judged closely

  • desperate

    focuses more on having no good options, while dire describes the situation itself

反義詞
  • stable

    describes a situation that is under control rather than in immediate danger

  • manageable

    describes a problem that can still be handled without urgent action

文法句型

dire + noun (situation/shortage/conditions/report)

be/look dire

in dire need of + noun

用法筆記

Often used for situations, shortages, and conditions where the danger is immediate or the need is urgent. Distinguish from sense 2: sense 1 points to serious risk or pressure, not simply low quality.

常見錯誤

❌The village needs dire food after the flood.
✅The village is in dire need of food after the flood.
💡Dire usually describes the seriousness of the need or situation, not the food itself.
❌The hospital direly needs nurses.
✅The hospital is in dire need of nurses.
💡Dire is usually used as an adjective phrase, not as the adverb direly in this pattern.

2. extremely bad in quality, condition, or effect

2.形容詞C1
釋義

extremely bad in quality, condition, or effect

例句

Yuna said the hostel coffee was dire and bought tea instead.

predicative judgment of quality

The school play was dire, but the parents clapped anyway.

evaluation of a performance

同義詞
  • awful

    very close in everyday speech and often a little more conversational

  • dreadful

    similar in strength but can sound slightly more formal or old-fashioned

  • lousy

    more informal and usually used in casual speech

反義詞
  • excellent

    opposite in quality and overall effect

  • decent

    weaker opposite meaning something is acceptable rather than terrible

文法句型

dire + noun (coffee/performance/review/draft)

be dire

用法筆記

Common in informal judgments about food, entertainment, service, writing, or other things that disappoint badly. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 is an evaluation of poor quality, not a crisis or urgent danger.

常見錯誤

❌The band played direly last night.
✅The band's performance was dire last night.
💡Use dire as an adjective when judging quality; direly is uncommon here.
❌The meeting was dire dangerous.
✅The meeting was dire.
💡In this sense, dire already means 'extremely bad' and does not need another adjective after it.

3. making people feel strong fear or dread

3.形容詞C2
釋義

making people feel strong fear or dread

例句

Zayd heard a dire cry from the alley behind the market.

collocation: dire cry

The cave sent back a dire echo that made the hikers stop.

collocation: dire echo

同義詞
  • terrifying

    stronger and more immediate, often for direct fear

  • ominous

    suggests something dark or threatening may happen, not always outright terror

  • ghastly

    more literary and often adds horror or shock

反義詞
  • reassuring

    describes something that reduces fear instead of causing it

  • comforting

    describes something that gives emotional safety or calm

文法句型

dire + noun (cry/echo/dream/scene)

用法筆記

This older sense is most natural in literary, poetic, or dramatic writing. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 3 focuses on the fear something creates in the imagination, not on an urgent real-world crisis.

常見錯誤

❌I felt dire during the thunderstorm.
✅I felt terrified during the thunderstorm.
💡Dire describes something that causes fear, not the person who feels it.