Synonyms of strait

strait

noun

1

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

• neck
• channel
• sound
• bay
• gulf
• roads
• narrows
• inlet
• stretch
• arm
• reach
• roadstead

2

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

• anguish
• distress
• pain
• agony
• sorrow
• sadness
• misery
• rack
• tribulation
• torture
• woe
• hurt
• cross
• torment
• excruciation
• travail
• affliction
• crucible
• discomfort
• hardship
• emergency
• unhappiness
• heartbreak
• heartache
• danger
• trial
• stitch
• pinch
• difficulty
• ache
• pang
• jeopardy
• soreness
• trouble
• joylessness
• asperity
• throe
• twinge
• rigor
• smarting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• relief
• ease
• consolation
• comfort
• solace
• security
• peace
• alleviation
• assuagement
• well-being

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

Recent Examples of strait

One potential measure involves the creation of a new coalition intended to facilitate traffic through the strait. —Natasha Bracken, semafor.com, 30 Apr. 2026

Due to financial straits brought about by the pandemic, industry guidelines surrounding institutional collections were relaxed, paving the way for museums to use money gained from art sales not solely for acquiring more art but rather for care of existing collections. —Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 29 Apr. 2026

Iran’s economy was in dire straits before the conflict. —Hira Humayun, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2026

Until the explosives are cleared, the 20% of the world's energy that normally passes through the strait could remain at a standstill. —Aidan Stretch, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2026