STRAIT Synonyms: 62 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'strait' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of strait are contingency , crisis , emergency , exigency , juncture , pinch , and straits . 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

Q: In what contexts can 'contingency' take the place of 'strait'?

In some situations, the words contingency and strait are roughly equivalent. However, contingency implies an emergency or exigency that is regarded as possible but uncertain of occurrence. // contingency plans

Q: When might 'crisis' be a better fit than 'strait'?

The words crisis and strait are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, crisis applies to a juncture whose outcome will make a decisive difference. // a crisis of confidence

Q: When is it sensible to use 'emergency' instead of 'strait'?

The meanings of emergency and strait largely overlap; however, emergency applies to a sudden unforeseen situation requiring prompt action to avoid disaster. // the presence of mind needed to deal with emergencies

Q: Where would 'exigency' be a reasonable alternative to 'strait'?

While the synonyms exigency and strait are close in meaning, exigency stresses the pressure of restrictions or urgency of demands created by a special situation. // provide for exigencies

Q: When would 'juncture' be a good substitute for 'strait'?

The words juncture and strait can be used in similar contexts, but juncture stresses the significant concurrence or convergence of events. // an important juncture in our country's history

Q: How is 'pinch' related to other words for 'strait'?

Pinch implies urgency or pressure for action to a less intense degree than exigency or emergency . // come through in a pinch

strait

noun

Definition of strait next

as in neck

a narrow body of water between two land masses as the ship headed east through the Strait of Gibraltar, Spain was on our left and Africa on our right

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in anguish

often straits plural a state of great suffering of body or mind in great straits over the loss of her mother's cherished necklace

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun strait differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of strait are contingency, crisis, emergency, exigency, juncture, pinch, and straits. 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

In what contexts can contingency take the place of strait?

In some situations, the words contingency and strait are roughly equivalent. However, contingency implies an emergency or exigency that is regarded as possible but uncertain of occurrence.

contingency plans

When might crisis be a better fit than strait?

The words crisis and strait are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 strait?

The meanings of emergency and strait largely overlap; however, emergency applies to a sudden unforeseen situation requiring prompt action to avoid disaster.

the presence of mind needed to deal with emergencies

Where would exigency be a reasonable alternative to strait?

While the synonyms exigency and strait are close in meaning, exigency stresses the pressure of restrictions or urgency of demands created by a special situation.

provide for exigencies

When would juncture be a good substitute for strait?

The words juncture and strait can be used in similar contexts, but 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 strait?

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 strait Good thing, given the dire financial straits the city of L.A. finds itself in. —

Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2024 Meanwhile, the Japanese Defense Ministry confirmed that six Chinese warships transited the strait, which lies between Japan's southwestern islands of Miyako and Okinawa, on a northbound voyage on Thursday. —

Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024 Across the strait, China was slipping into civil war between Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalist Kuomintang and Mao Zedong’s Communist forces. —

Will Buckingham, The Dial, 27 Nov. 2024 The detail of wages withheld spoke to the financial straits in which Jacob and Wilhelm now found themselves. —

Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for strait

Recent Examples of Synonyms for strait

Noun

The 85-year-old Vitale underwent surgery in June after a biopsy of the lymph node in his neck came back cancerous, marking his fourth cancer diagnosis.

Jenna West and Andrew Marchand, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
The victim was stabbed in the neck during a fight inside the Selwyn Ave. apartment near East Mount Eden Ave. — just a block away from Claremont Park — about 1:30 a.m., cops said.

Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 9 Jan. 2025