dire

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dire /d'aɪ'ər/
1 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
Dire is used to emphasize how serious or terrible a situation or event is.
A government split would have dire consequences for domestic peace...
He was in dire need of hospital treatment.
= awful, desperate
2 [ADJ] usu v-link ADJ
If you describe something as dire, you are emphasizing that it is of very low quality. (INFORMAL)

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