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

Examples 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 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
  • While climate denial allows people to protect themselves from feelings of distress, terror management theory suggests that denying death is just the tip of the iceberg.
    Discover Magazine, Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2024
  • Twigs’s success over the years has been used as a tactic by LaBeouf’s legal team to undermine her accusation of emotional distress.
    Arimeta Diop, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • The silent anguish that Charles describes has dangerous real-world ramifications: After the death of a spouse, widowers experience higher rates of mortality, persistent depression, and social isolation than widows do.
    Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 31 Oct. 2024
  • The plot is on the heavy side: The Innocents plays with the mental anguish of a person desperately trying to make sense of the world around them while simultaneously dealing with their own emotional turmoil.
    B.J. Colangelo, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • Compared to the agony and the ecstasy on display in McQueen’s extraordinary Small Axe compilation, which celebrated the United Kingdom’s diaspora culture while forcing the country to reckon with its institutionally racist past, this might seem like weak tea.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2024
  • The movie One of the darkest true stories on this list, An American Crime never undersells or soft-pedals the ceaseless agony of Likens’ ordeal.
    Declan Gallagher and Chris Bellamy, EW.com, 31 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • Persistent back pain is another indicator – this, too, is the result of tiny fractures or compression of the spine.
    Jianying Zhang, Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2024
  • Their pain affects not just them, but also their parents and siblings.
    Marta Balaga, Variety, 5 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near straits

Cite this Entry

“Straits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straits. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on straits

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