What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
dire
Example
The country is facing a dire economic crisis. [dire: adjective]
Example
The doctor gave us a dire warning about the patient's condition. [dire: adjective]
severe
Example
The storm caused severe damage to the town. [severe: adjective]
Example
The patient is suffering from severe pain. [severe: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Severe is more commonly used than dire in everyday language. Severe is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while dire is less common and tends to be used in more urgent or critical situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between dire and severe?
Both dire and severe can be used in formal or informal contexts, but dire may be perceived as more dramatic or emotive, while severe can be more objective or factual.
