DIRE, DIRENESS
ADJECTIVES
► BALE actively evil, deadly, dire, pernicious, destructive, fatal, cruel, tormenting → a1000 obs.
► SMART of an event, time, etc.: dreadful, dire; difficult; testing → 1200 obs.
NOUNS
► DIRITY direness, dreadfulness, terribleness, cruelty → 1586 obs.
Lexicophilia 