a dire necessity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a dire necessity" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize the urgent and critical need for something. Example: "In times of crisis, access to clean water becomes a dire necessity for survival."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

But nowadays – unless you choose politics – there isn't a dire necessity to get into London.

The Guardian

Reza always resolves to make their job easier – use no more than four characters and confine the action to a single set, a godsend for anybody running a theatre, and a dire necessity for regional venues.

Independent

Madrid understandably suspects that this cease-fire simply makes a virtue out of a dire necessity — the group may be almost incapable of carrying out effective attacks at the moment.

The New York Times

I will never forget a late-night conversation I had seven years ago, around the table of a modest kitchen in a small town in southern Poland, when an impressively inebriated man — a distant relative — implored me with tear-filled eyes to get the message to Obama, as quickly as possible, that a missile shield pointed east, at Moscow, was a dire necessity.

The New Yorker

She can describe dividedness but seems not to suffer from it herself: "It is possible to see a dire necessity for change and fear it so greatly that one runs to give oneself to the father figure who will forbid one to act".

The Guardian - Books

Meanwhile, we have a whole vast population of would-be journalism consumers that never make it into the conversation -- the working poor, for whom timely news remains a dire necessity.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

You make a virtue of this dire necessity.Moreover, the statist model that you so readily dismiss has in fact created mighty global companies, such as Électricité de France, which distributes a large chunk of Britain's energy and is the lead developer in the new Hinkley Point nuclear power station.

The Economist

A chameleon wrestles his conscience after dire necessity forces him to misuse a pair of underpants.

The New York Times - Books

But it was with Tony Blair that the argument for moving from industry to services shifted from one of dire necessity to being an altogether more optimistic vision about Britain's place in the world.

The Guardian - Business

But that could not expunge Lincoln's constitutional violation, Judge Posner says; "a great president claimed a moral right to violate the Constitution in circumstances of dire necessity".

The New York Times

Bazelon's oversight is not important in itself; what is important is that we understand that a great president claimed a moral right to violate the Constitution in circumstances of dire necessity.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a dire necessity" when conveying a sense of urgency and potential for severe negative consequences if the necessity isn't met.

Common error

Avoid using "a dire necessity" when a simpler phrase like "important" or "necessary" would suffice. Overusing it diminishes its impact and can sound melodramatic.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "a dire necessity" is to act as a noun phrase, emphasizing the critical and urgent nature of something required. Ludwig's examples illustrate its use in conveying situations of high importance and potential negative consequences.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Wiki

6%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a dire necessity" is a noun phrase used to emphasize the critical and urgent nature of a need or requirement. According to Ludwig, its grammatical status is correct, and it's often found in news, media, and scientific contexts. While not the most frequent phrase, it's suitable for formal writing when conveying a serious situation. Related phrases include ""an urgent need"" and ""a critical requirement"". Remember to use it judiciously to maintain its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an urgent need

Focuses on the urgency of the need, omitting the implication of severity.

a critical requirement

Highlights the criticality of the requirement, downplaying the potential severity of consequences.

an absolute must

Emphasizes the non-negotiable nature of the requirement, but lacks the sense of impending crisis.

a pressing demand

Underscores the immediate nature of the demand, but softens the severity.

a crucial imperative

Stresses the importance and urgency, using a more formal tone.

an indispensable condition

Highlights that the condition is essential and can't be avoided, lacking a feeling of imminent crisis.

a vital necessity

Emphasizes the vitality and essential nature of the necessity, lacking the level of urgency.

a matter of life and death

Dramatically conveys the extreme urgency and importance, often implying immediate danger.

an existential imperative

Stresses importance at a basic existential level, often referring to survival.

something critically important

Highlights the importance of the necessity with little indication of urgency.

FAQs

How can I use "a dire necessity" in a sentence?

Use "a dire necessity" to emphasize that something is critically needed and extremely important. For example: "In times of famine, access to food becomes "a dire necessity" for survival".

What phrases are similar to "a dire necessity"?

Alternatives to "a dire necessity" include "an urgent need", "a critical requirement", or "an absolute must". The best option depends on the context.

Is it correct to use "a dire necessity" in formal writing?

Yes, "a dire necessity" is appropriate for formal writing when you want to convey a serious and urgent need. However, ensure that its intensity matches the situation described.

What makes "a dire necessity" different from "a necessity"?

"A necessity" simply means something is needed. "A dire necessity" implies that the need is urgent and crucial, and not fulfilling it could have extremely negative consequences.