What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
direly
Example
The company is in dire need of new leadership. [direly: adverb]
Example
The patient's condition is dire and requires immediate attention. [dire: adjective]
desperately
Example
She desperately needed to find a job to pay her bills. [desperately: adverb]
Example
The team was desperately trying to score a goal before the end of the game. [desperately: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Desperately is more commonly used than direly in everyday language, especially in informal contexts. Direly is more commonly used in formal writing or speech.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between direly and desperately?
Direly is more formal than desperately, which is more casual and colloquial. Therefore, direly is more appropriate for formal writing or speech, while desperately is more suitable for informal contexts.
