straits

plural of strait

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun straits differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of straits are contingency, crisis, emergency, exigency, juncture, pinch, and strait. 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

When is contingency a more appropriate choice than straits?

The synonyms contingency and straits are sometimes interchangeable, but contingency implies an emergency or exigency that is regarded as possible but uncertain of occurrence.

contingency plans

In what contexts can crisis take the place of straits?

The meanings of crisis and straits largely overlap; however, 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 straits?

In some situations, the words emergency and straits are roughly equivalent. However, emergency applies to a sudden unforeseen situation requiring prompt action to avoid disaster.

the presence of mind needed to deal with emergencies

When might exigency be a better fit than straits?

While in some cases nearly identical to straits, exigency stresses the pressure of restrictions or urgency of demands created by a special situation.

provide for exigencies

When can juncture be used instead of straits?

Although the words juncture and straits have much in common, 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 straits?

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 straits Desperate for more space, the city negotiated an initial $40 million deal with the Row, still in financial straits from the pandemic. Luis Ferré-Sadurní, New York Times, 23 Dec. 2024 Recognizing the dire straits, the California Fish and Game Commission in April voted to uplist desert tortoises from threatened to endangered. Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 21 Dec. 2024 Both straits are situated near Taiwan. Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024 Because the Montreux Convention enforced by Ankara prevents Russian warships passing through the Turkish straits, Moscow is likely to redeploy the vessels to its bases in northwestern Russia and Kaliningrad, which borders the Baltic Sea, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said. Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2024 While Jets fans may be used to such dire straits as the NFL regular season enters its final full month, the implosion of both New York franchises makes for one of the league’s most cringeworthy storylines this year. Kyle Feldscher, CNN, 27 Nov. 2024 Much of the money in this agreement will likely be structured as debt too—and will add to a global debt crisis that the International Monetary Fund estimates has 35 countries in dire financial straits this year. Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 24 Nov. 2024 Back then, the Cuban American community in Miami took Elian's case as a cause to beat Fidel Castro and as a way to communicate to the world why so many Cubans left the island, even at the risk of dying in the Florida straits. Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 9 Oct. 2024 Instead, local governments, many already in difficult financial straits, have spent to keep what are rapidly becoming zombi firms afloat. Milton Ezrati, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straits
Noun
  • Forbes is protected by reCAPTCHA, and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Mexico, Canada, and China are the first, second, and third largest trading partners of the U.S. Markets React to Tariff Disruption Equities markets indicated distress in a number of ways.
    Erik Sherman, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
  • At Yosemite, a group of protesters also hung a 30-by-50-foot U.S. flag upside down—historically a symbol of dire distress—off the side of El Capitan, the park’s iconic sheer cliff face, on February 22 to raise awareness about the administration’s cuts.
    Bailey Berg, AFAR Media, 4 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • But last year's Olympics were also a major source of anguish.
    Christopher Intagliata, NPR, 3 Mar. 2025
  • Every repeat viewing of Abraham's performance reveals some new moment of humiliation — some fresh sickening glimmer of anguish that feels all too familiar.
    EW.com, EW.com, 2 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Challenges of rebuilding Victims who lost homes will be faced with the decision whether to rebuild — which can be agony.
    Tony Saavedra, Orange County Register, 24 Feb. 2025
  • Then, Cara’s killshot was followed by her screams of agony at her dire circumstances.
    Hunter Ingram, Variety, 23 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Symptoms are akin to getting the flu: body aches, fever, abdominal pain.
    Rick Jervis, USA TODAY, 9 Mar. 2025
  • But the Heat remains without Alec Burks (lower back pain), Josh Christopher (G League), Nikola Jovic (broken right hand) and Dru Smith (left Achilles surgery) against the Bulls.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 9 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Straits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straits. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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