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Mire - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Mire refers to a stretch of swampy or boggy ground, often muddy and difficult to traverse. It can also mean a difficult or troublesome situation, metaphorically trapping someone.

mire

/maɪr/ /maɪə/

Definition:

A stretch of swampy or boggy ground, or a difficult situation hard to escape.

Synonyms:

bog, marsh, quagmire, swamp

Part of Speech:

noun, verb

Antonyms:

dry land, solid ground

Common Collocations:

deep mire, stuck in the mire, sink into the mire

Derivatives:

miry, mired

Usage Tips:

Use "mire" literally for muddy ground or metaphorically for a troublesome situation.

Common Phrases:

in the mire, drag through the mire, bogged down in the mire

Etymology:

From Old Norse "mýrr," meaning swamp or bog; related to Dutch "moeras."

Examples:

  • 1. The hikers got stuck in the thick mire near the riverbank.
  • 2. The company is deep in the mire of financial troubles.
  • 3. Her boots were covered in mud after walking through the mire.
  • 4. He tried to avoid the political mire but got dragged in anyway.

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