as in distress
a state of great suffering of body or mind
in great straits over the loss of her mother's cherished necklace
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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
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
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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
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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
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But last year's Olympics were also a major source of anguish.—
Christopher Intagliata,
NPR,
3 Mar. 2025
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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
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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
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Then, Cara’s killshot was followed by her screams of agony at her dire circumstances.—
Hunter Ingram,
Variety,
23 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Symptoms are akin to getting the flu: body aches, fever, abdominal pain.—
Rick Jervis,
USA TODAY,
9 Mar. 2025
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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
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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