a dire consequence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a dire consequence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a serious or severe outcome resulting from a particular action or situation. Example: "Failing to follow safety protocols can lead to a dire consequence for the entire team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

All of this would be funny if it didn't have a dire consequence.

The New York Times

He projects a new two-year gap of $13 billion for this and the coming fiscal years about 15% of the current budget, which itself is about a fifth smaller than it was when the recession struck.Mr Taylor's analysis has a dire consequence.

The Economist

Progression of liver fibrosis to cirrhosis is a dire consequence of chronic liver diseases (CLD).

Clinical Biochemistry

I spent most of the night afraid I was dying of a zoological disease, a dire consequence according to the box.

Vice

A dire consequence of insisting that Abdulmutallab isn't entitled to Constitutional rights is that more people might start believing that this is true, when it isn't.

Huffington Post

A dire consequence of the right's insistence on politicizing the Christmas Crotchfire attack is that they've transformed an al Qaeda failure into an al Qaeda victory.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

"Every state has to solve this problem or else there's going to be a very dire consequence".

The New York Times

For the men who ran the network, a seemingly trivial disagreement over booking guests was about to become a matter of dire consequence.

The New Yorker

During the open heart surgery Britten had undergone in 1973 he suffered a slight stroke with one dire consequence: a paralysis of his left hand and arm, which prevented him from playing the piano.

The Guardian

Page A21 FALLOUT OF NEW DRUG RULE A shift by the federal government in how it pays for drugs for dialysis patients may have had an unintended and potentially dire consequence, researchers say.

The New York Times

There may be fears about the future development of physical or mental symptoms, a belief that actual but minor symptoms are of dire consequence, or an experience of normal bodily sensations as threatening symptoms.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a dire consequence" when you want to emphasize the extremely negative or serious result of an action or situation. It suggests that the outcome is not just bad, but potentially devastating.

Common error

Avoid using "a dire consequence" when the situation is merely inconvenient or mildly negative. The phrase is best reserved for scenarios involving significant harm, danger, or irreversible damage.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a dire consequence" functions as a noun phrase that describes a serious or extremely negative outcome. It commonly appears as the subject or object of a sentence, emphasizing the severity of the result. As noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a dire consequence" serves to highlight the severity of a potential outcome, emphasizing that the result is not merely negative, but extremely serious and possibly irreversible. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in formal writing. While not as common as simpler terms, its use adds weight to warnings and underscores the importance of actions taken. Predominantly found in news and media, as well as scientific contexts, it is best employed when communicating significant risk or potential harm.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a disastrous consequence

Similar in meaning, but places more emphasis on the disastrous nature of the consequence.

a grave outcome

Emphasizes the seriousness and potential finality of the result.

a serious repercussion

Focuses on the impact or effect as being severe and far-reaching.

a severe implication

Highlights the potential long-term and serious impact.

a calamitous result

Highlights the disastrous nature of the end effect.

a catastrophic effect

Emphasizes the scale and destructive impact of the result.

a critical ramification

Stresses the importance and potential complications of the outcome.

a terrible aftermath

Draws attention to the period following the event and its negative conditions.

an unfortunate repercussion

Highlights the undesired nature of the consequence, expressing disappointment or regret.

a regrettable development

Softens the blow slightly by focusing on the unfortunate nature of the unfolding situation.

FAQs

How to use "a dire consequence" in a sentence?

Use "a dire consequence" to describe a very negative outcome of a situation. For example: "Ignoring safety regulations can have "a dire consequence"."

What can I say instead of "a dire consequence"?

You can use alternatives like "a grave outcome", "a serious repercussion", or "a disastrous consequence" depending on the context.

What is the difference between "a dire consequence" and "a negative result"?

"A dire consequence" implies a much more severe and potentially irreversible outcome than "a negative result", which can refer to any unfavorable outcome, regardless of its severity.

Is it appropriate to use "a dire consequence" in formal writing?

Yes, "a dire consequence" is appropriate for formal writing when describing a situation with extremely negative and serious repercussions. It's often found in news reports, scientific papers, and formal analyses.