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 About one-third of global urea and one-fifth of ammonia supplies move through the strait. —Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 14 May 2026 The Golden Gate Bridge, spanning the strait that connects the Pacific Ocean to San Francisco Bay, opened to pedestrians. —USA Today, 13 May 2026 Tehran is also looking to retain control over the strait to deter future attacks and wants to potentially use it as a toll booth to earn billions annually from transiting ships. —Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 12 May 2026 Iran has insisted that a preliminary agreement cover only sanctions relief and the strait, with the nuclear matter being relegated to later stages. —Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 12 May 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, 16 May 2026
  • Also due to the water temperatures, seal-proof bands for our wrists and neck, gloves, and a head covering were added, in addition to a snorkeling mask and fins.
    — Carinne Geil Botta, Travel + Leisure, 16 May 2026
Definition of neck
Noun
  • Annah’s resulting anguish is so uncomfortable for the others, that Ibrahim and Jacques practically come to blows.
    — Alissa Simon, Variety, 16 May 2026
  • Yet masculinism also functions as a perpetual-motion machine of grievance, an inarticulate howl of anguish at the status quo—whatever that currently is.
    — Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 14 May 2026
Definition of anguish
Noun
  • Art that’s anchored in real pain almost always leaves open a channel to beauty—or at least some more richly humane response to life.
    — Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 16 May 2026
  • Articles, podcast episodes as a guest, a YouTube channel, a book, a regular newsletter.
    — Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
Definition of channel
Noun
  • Is rapid weight gain the cause of the patient’s distress?
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
  • Developer John Dewberry bought the building out of distress in 2010 for $36 million.
    — Savannah Sicurella, AJC.com, 20 May 2026
Definition of distress
Noun
  • Others are alive with the sound of hammers and saws, as workers frame new construction.
    — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 15 May 2026
  • The affecting, uncanny sound design baked into Skeletrix’s work does well to uphold the perception that there is, in fact, a complex message to be dissected.
    — Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 15 May 2026
Definition of sound
Noun
  • Symptoms can include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain and internal bleeding.
    — Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026
  • Guilfoyle said helpful approaches include increasing enrichment and sniff-based activities on walks, providing more structured chewing opportunities, treating underlying nausea, reflux, pain or anxiety if present, and redirecting with food or toys before the dog starts grazing heavily.
    — Diana Bocco, USA Today, 15 May 2026
Definition of pain
Noun
  • Baha Mar is large in stature, sure—and Rosewood is part of a three-hotel complex across the bay from Atlantis, which looms large and brooding over its own end of the water as everything Baha Mar does not want to be—dated, dark, and reminiscent of Spring Break Past.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 May 2026
  • The effort comes amid an alarming rise in gray whale deaths in the bay.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 May 2026
Definition of bay
Noun
  • Kirby, screaming in agony, was on his knees as officers ordered him to drop a knife, according to video.
    — David K. Li, NBC news, 15 May 2026
  • The sight of a heart-and-soul player in agony on the ice, then being helped off it — by captain Marie-Philip Poulin, Stacey’s wife — was a shock.
    — Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 15 May 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 21 May. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on strait

Nglish: Translation of strait for Spanish Speakers

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