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
-
The organization provides up to eight free mental health and counseling sessions to youth and their families who have experienced gun violence, abuse or emotional distress.—
Kamal Morgan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 May 2025
-
Noumea’s Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre notified Carnival Splendor about a distress call from a catamaran while the ship was traveling south of New Caledonia on Thursday, according to a news release.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
24 May 2025
Noun
-
The victim’s scream of anguish is captured in the video.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
26 May 2025
-
Rite of Spring is the Pièce de resistance of the exhibition and features a mass of writhing bodies morphing into each other, women giving birth, androgynous figures and figures with expressions of anguish.—
Lee Sharrock,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
Noun
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At this point in the narrative, when Mike is sentenced to 14 months jail time, more conventional addiction dramas would dig into the trauma of incarceration and the agony of substance withdrawal.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2025
-
One young man described the particular agony of being placed carelessly in a wheelchair and forced to sit for hours atop his testicles.—
Sarah Zhang,
The Atlantic,
16 May 2025
Noun
-
Symptoms like inflammation, joint pain, and stiffness are an inevitable part of aging.—
Health,
Health,
20 May 2025
-
Contributor Aging often comes with unwelcome changes, like joint stiffness, nerve pain, sleepless nights, and slowed recovery.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
20 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Straits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straits. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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