dire repercussions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dire repercussions" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe serious or severe consequences that may arise from a particular action or decision. Example: "If we fail to address the issue promptly, we may face dire repercussions in the future."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

The strike had dire repercussions for Yemen's economy.

The New York Times

If the banks fail, so does the Greek economy — with dire repercussions for the euro area.

The New York Times

And it could have similar dire repercussions for other European banks that hold Greek debt.

The New York Times

Yet the gallant loss against La Motta was to have dire repercussions for Mitri.

The Guardian

I distrust any inn that puts too much emphasis on the term "Victorian," fearing dire repercussions if my glass leaves a water mark on a walnut night table.

The New York Times - Travel

Still, many Greeks are unsettled by Syriza's game of chicken with the troika and may heed foreign warnings about the dire repercussions of a possible Greek exit from the euro.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Therewould be dire economic repercussions, as well.

The New York Times - Books

Once the town's teens begin to post their parents' secrets online, the repercussions are dire, even without the option of beheadings.

The New Yorker

After promising to have himself separately sworn in as the "people's president," Odinga finally did it during a somewhat chaotic, but peaceful ceremony on Tuesday, much to the consternation of the Kenyatta administration, which had issued dire warnings of grave repercussions should Odinga go through with it.

The Washington Post

Unless he quit singing, the repercussions could be dire.

The Guardian - Music

If it were to become even a fraction as chaotic as, say, Liberia, the repercussions would be dire.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "dire repercussions" when you want to emphasize the extremely negative and serious consequences of an action or event. It's suitable for scenarios where the outcomes are not just bad, but potentially disastrous or irreversible.

Common error

Avoid using "dire repercussions" when the consequences are merely inconvenient or mildly negative. The phrase carries a strong weight, so reserve it for truly serious situations to maintain its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dire repercussions" functions as a noun phrase, serving as the object of a verb or preposition to describe significantly negative consequences. Ludwig's examples showcase its use in various contexts, emphasizing the severity of outcomes.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "dire repercussions" is a phrase used to describe severe and negative consequences. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for use in written English. While not extremely common, it appears most frequently in news and media, formal business contexts, and academic writing. When employing this phrase, it's important to reserve it for situations where the consequences are genuinely serious, to avoid diluting its impact. Alternatives such as "severe consequences" or "grave consequences" can be used depending on the specific shade of meaning you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

severe consequences

Focuses on the severity of the outcomes, omitting the sense of reaction or effect.

grave consequences

Emphasizes the seriousness and potentially long-lasting impact of the outcomes.

serious fallout

Highlights the negative results or aftereffects of an event or action.

catastrophic effects

Stresses the disastrous nature of the outcomes.

devastating outcomes

Highlights the destructive and damaging nature of the results.

adverse impacts

Focuses on the negative effects or influences resulting from something.

damaging consequences

Emphasizes the harm caused by the resulting actions or events.

critical ramifications

Highlights the far-reaching and significant implications.

negative repercussions

A more general term indicating unfavorable or adverse outcomes.

unfavorable outcomes

A more neutral expression indicating undesirable results.

FAQs

How to use "dire repercussions" in a sentence?

Use "dire repercussions" to describe severely negative consequences that follow an action or decision. For instance, "Failure to address climate change could lead to "dire repercussions" for future generations."

What can I say instead of "dire repercussions"?

You can use alternatives like "severe consequences", "grave consequences", or "catastrophic effects" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "dire repercussions" or "dire consequences"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but ""dire repercussions"" specifically implies that the consequences are a direct result of a particular action or event, whereas "dire consequences" is a more general term for severe outcomes.

What's the difference between "dire repercussions" and "negative consequences"?

"Dire repercussions" suggests very severe and far-reaching negative effects, while "negative consequences" is a broader term that can include milder or less significant outcomes.