it sounds dire

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it sounds dire" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation that appears to be serious, urgent, or potentially harmful. Example: "After hearing the news about the economic downturn, it sounds dire for many small businesses in the area."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It sounds dire, but for the U.F.L., it is business as usual.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

That sounds dire.

The Economist

And the situation sounds dire in Italy.

The New York Times

— Steven W. Running, Ecophysiologist, University of Montana The situation certainly sounds dire, but let us pause and play devil's advocate for a moment.

The New York Times

If that sounds dire, the series keeps a dry sense of humor about itself, with tongue-in-cheek observations and asides.

The New York Times

This sounds dire, but the title was also inspired by a set of lyrics that Carl Hancock Rux derived from the Book of Revelation, and which accompanies a section of the piece.

The New Yorker

And while the quote makes AT&T's plight sounds dire, in 2015, AT&T's "Legacy voice and data service" revenues for business and residential services was still about $24 billion.

Huffington Post

"The situation at the NRC sounds dire," wrote Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky). in a letter to President Barack Obama, "leaving me very concerned that the Chairman is unable to lead the Commission in the fulfillment of its responsibilities".

Huffington Post

It sounds really dire.

BBC

As the van, emblazoned with Mr. Miller's name and the words "Bringing City Hall to our neighborhoods," made its rounds, educators and project advocates sounded dire warnings about the fate of their programs.

The New York Times

He was trying to sound dire about this, but I could detect a note of joy in his voice.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it sounds dire", ensure the context clearly establishes what "it" refers to. Avoid ambiguity by specifying the situation, report, or forecast that sounds dire.

Common error

Avoid using "it sounds dire" in situations where the severity is exaggerated for dramatic effect. Reserve it for genuinely serious or urgent situations to maintain credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it sounds dire" functions as an assessment of a situation. It refers to a specific condition, report, or forecast, and sounds dire expresses a negative evaluation of its severity. Ludwig AI confirms this, showcasing its use in various news and media contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it sounds dire" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to express that a situation appears extremely serious or worrying. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage in news and media, business and science contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the context is clear, and the level of seriousness is genuine to avoid exaggeration. Alternatives such as "it seems critical" or "the outlook is grim" can be used to add nuance. While generally neutral, opting for more formal alternatives in highly formal settings can enhance the writing quality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it seems critical

Replaces "dire" with "critical", emphasizing the urgency and potential danger.

it appears grave

Substitutes "dire" with "grave", highlighting the seriousness and potential for negative outcomes.

it looks bleak

Uses "bleak" instead of "dire", focusing on the pessimistic outlook of the situation.

it feels ominous

Replaces the descriptive "sounds" with the experiential "feels", and "dire" with "ominous", emphasizing the feeling of foreboding.

it presents a crisis

Rephrases the sentence to highlight the crisis aspect of the situation.

the outlook is grim

Changes the structure to emphasize the grim perspective of the situation.

the situation is precarious

Highlights the instability and risk associated with the situation.

it suggests a catastrophe

Replaces "dire" with "catastrophe" emphasizing the disastrous possibilities.

the forecast is worrying

Uses "worrying" instead of "dire", focusing on the anxiety-inducing nature of the forecast.

things look grim

More informal way to say the situation doesn't look good.

FAQs

How can I use "it sounds dire" in a sentence?

Use "it sounds dire" to express that a situation appears to be extremely serious or worrying. For example, "After reading the report, "it sounds dire" for the company's future."

What are some alternatives to "it sounds dire"?

You can use alternatives such as "it seems critical", "it appears grave", or "the outlook is grim" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "it sounds dire" formal or informal?

"It sounds dire" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, more formal alternatives like "it appears grave" may be preferred in very formal writing.

When should I avoid using "it sounds dire"?

Avoid using "it sounds dire" if you want to downplay a situation or if you believe the situation is not as serious as it seems. In such cases, you could use a phrase like "it's not as bad as it sounds" to offer a more optimistic perspective.