straits
straits Lexical Profile
straits Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A state of severe difficulty, distress, or financial need, especially in the phrase 'dire straits'.
"After losing its primary source of funding, the community theater found itself in dire financial straits."
Narrow passages of water connecting two seas or two other large areas of water (plural of 'strait', also frequently used with singular meaning).
"Experienced captains must navigate the treacherous straits with extreme caution during winter storms."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse 'straits' (narrow waterways or severe hardships, as in 'dire straits') with the homophone 'straights' (things that are not curved or bent). When referring to a state of difficulty or distress, the word is always used in the plural form.
• Rhymes for straits
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from Middle English 'streit', borrowed from Old French 'estreit' (narrow, tight, constricted), which comes from Latin 'strictus', the past participle of 'stringere' (to draw tight or bind).