strait

noun

Definition of straitnext
1
as in neck
a narrow body of water between two land masses as the ship headed east through the Strait of Gibraltar, Spain was on our left and Africa on our right

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in anguish
often straits plural a state of great suffering of body or mind in great straits over the loss of her mother's cherished necklace

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun strait differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of strait are contingency, crisis, emergency, exigency, juncture, pinch, and straits. While all these words mean "a critical or crucial time or state of affairs," strait, now commonly straits, applies to a troublesome situation from which escape is extremely difficult.

in dire straits

In what contexts can contingency take the place of strait?

In some situations, the words contingency and strait are roughly equivalent. However, contingency implies an emergency or exigency that is regarded as possible but uncertain of occurrence.

contingency plans

When might crisis be a better fit than strait?

The words crisis and strait are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, crisis applies to a juncture whose outcome will make a decisive difference.

a crisis of confidence

When is it sensible to use emergency instead of strait?

The meanings of emergency and strait largely overlap; however, emergency applies to a sudden unforeseen situation requiring prompt action to avoid disaster.

the presence of mind needed to deal with emergencies

Where would exigency be a reasonable alternative to strait?

While the synonyms exigency and strait are close in meaning, exigency stresses the pressure of restrictions or urgency of demands created by a special situation.

provide for exigencies

When would juncture be a good substitute for strait?

The words juncture and strait can be used in similar contexts, but juncture stresses the significant concurrence or convergence of events.

an important juncture in our country's history

How is pinch related to other words for strait?

Pinch implies urgency or pressure for action to a less intense degree than exigency or emergency.

come through in a pinch

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of strait The strait’s closure has driven up global prices for fertilizer and for the diesel fuel that powers most of America’s heavy agricultural equipment. —Kayla Steinberg, NBC news, 2 Apr. 2026 Senior risk and compliance analyst, Lloyd's List Intelligence Bridget Diakun Iran's parliament passed a bill on Tuesday to formalize toll collection on vessels transiting the strait — a measure that would institutionalize Tehran's financial control over the chokepoint. —Anniek Bao, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2026 And in a report last week by Iranian state TV’s English-language broadcaster, an anonymous official was quoted as saying Iran had its own demands to end the fighting, including retaining sovereignty over the strait. —Will Weissert, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026 The final draft of Bahrain's resolution, obtained Thursday by The Associated Press, authorizes the use of defensive — but not offensive — action to ensure vessels can safely transit the strait. —CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for strait
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strait
  1. neck
  2. anguish
  3. channel
  4. distress
  5. sound
  6. pain
  7. bay
  8. agony
Noun
  • Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.
    — CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 5 Apr. 2026
  • More than 5,000 Amazon shoppers jumped on the neck scarf trend in the last month.
    — Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 4 Apr. 2026
Definition of neck
Noun
  • But some congregants’ anguish over October 7th was compounded by dread about Israel’s brutal, indiscriminate response.
    — Eyal Press, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
  • Accenting the anguish by bizarre apparent coincidence, less than two weeks later the National Basketball Rules Committee reinstated the dunk — it had been banned for nearly a decade at the amateur level.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2026
Definition of anguish
Noun
  • My administration will establish clear policy that bans deputy gangs and gang-like behavior, protect whistleblowers, and create safe, independent channels to report misconduct.
    — Opinion Staff, Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
  • Prior to word of the first service member's rescue, social media footage showed American drones, aircraft and helicopters flying over the mountainous region where a TV channel affiliated with Iranian state television said earlier that at least one pilot bailed out of the fighter jet.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Apr. 2026
Definition of channel
Noun
  • There is a long history of women's pain being dismissed by doctors, incorrectly categorized as period pain or rooted in psychological distress.
    — Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
  • The lawsuit accuses the driver, named as a defendant, of assault and battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
    — Nick Lentz, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
Definition of distress
Noun
  • That shop, Orange County Drum & Percussion, better known as OCDP, would go on to define the look and sound of a generation of alternative rock drummers.
    — Jeff Miller, Rolling Stone, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Ray Suen rounds out the sound with string arrangements performed on violin and viola.
    — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026
Definition of sound
Noun
  • Bank, a New York surgeon who founded a clinic focused on post-mastectomy pain, said the pain is believed to be triggered by nerves that are severed during surgery and then left that way.
    — Brett Kelman, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
  • Falter said there was some lingering pain on Wednesday.
    — Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
Definition of pain
Noun
  • There is vehicle access via the courtyard with 10 disabled bays.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Apr. 2026
  • Unit 1501 at Portofino Tower, with its lush wraparound bay views.
    — Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 3 Apr. 2026
Definition of bay
Noun
  • The public markets’ agony may for the foreseeable future make assets less expensive, while AI urgency remains high.
    — Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
  • After walking for just a few minutes, their legs would painfully freeze up, as if turning to rock — an agony no doctor could explain.
    — Alexandra Sifferlin, STAT, 31 Mar. 2026
Definition of agony

Browse Nearby Words

strains
strait
straiten
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Strait.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strait. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on strait

Nglish: Translation of strait for Spanish Speakers

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