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

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

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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

Example 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 By late September, those work-arounds had restored about half of the oil that normally passes through the strait, helping keep crude prices around $100 a barrel instead of the much higher levels many analysts had feared. — Brian C. Black, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2026 On Wednesday, Centcom said that 20 million barrels of crude had transited the strait, rejecting Iranian claims that the waterway was closed. — Spencer Kimball,deena Zaidi, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026 After exiting the strait, for instance, one ship may pass oil to another. — ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026 Maritime tracking firm Kpler said this week that oil exports from the region surpassed prewar levels last week, despite ongoing attacks on ships in the strait. — Frank Andrews, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for strait

Recent Examples of Synonyms for strait

Noun

The set featured a baby T-shirt with short sleeves and a high, round neck.

— Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026
According to the Public Defender's Office, officers falsely claimed that Gibson had assaulted them by biting, punching, and wrapping a radio cord around an officer's neck, claims later refuted by video evidence.

— Senior Editor, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of neck

Noun

If a message appears to come from the boss but something feels off, Cranor said, workers should verify it through another channel before responding.

— Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026
Izumi, a viewer of his channel based in Japan, tells him the jeans would fetch a fortune in Tokyo’s denim market.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of channel

Noun

The vast majority expressed deep distress and anger at their government after the massacres that took place in response to January’s mass protests.

— Narges Bajoghli, Foreign Affairs, 9 Oct. 2026
While ChatGPT isn’t a substitute for professional mental health care, our safeguards are designed to identify distress, safely handle harmful requests, and guide users to real-world help.

— Laura Reiley, Vanity Fair, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of distress

Noun

The album moves like a DJ set, never letting a sound outstay its welcome.

— Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 2026
The s and z sounds of cedar scent, soothed, breeze, petals, pads, crossed, shore, and small create a peaceful line of sound that mimics the smooth flow of a river.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of sound

Noun

Like an Arthur Jafa montage, clips of joy and pain flash seamlessly in succession.

— Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 13 Oct. 2026
Penix was hopeful to return and play in overtime, but during the Ravens' opening possession of the extra session, Penix said the pain was getting worse and worse as his body cooled down.

— ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of pain

Noun

The adventure began with the helicopter soaring over breathtaking landscapes of alpine peaks and turquoise waters, before touching down at the bay.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
The prologue starts in 1986 in Newfoundland with a family relocating, uprooting their lives in the most all-encompassing of ways, taking their entire home — propped up on a barge and steered by a lone motorboat — across a bay.

— Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of bay

Noun

His personal agony fused with despair over the military government, which continued to crack down on democracy activists.

— E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Now, the defining image of the death penalty in 2026 is a woman strapped to a gurney, in unbearable agony, being tortured by prison officials tasked with killing her but unable to do so.

— Maya Foa, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of agony

Browse Nearby Words

strains

strait

straiten

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“Strait.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strait. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of strait

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Synonyms of strait

noun

Synonym Chooser

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The Words of the Week - Mar. 13

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