# mire

/ˈmaɪɝ/ (US) · /mˈaɪə/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mire
Updated: 2026-05-28

## Definition

a deep, soft, and wet place that is hard to walk through. It can also mean a difficult or unpleasant situation that is hard to get out of.

For teachers: a soft, wet, and muddy area of ground; by extension, a state of difficulty, confusion, or moral degradation. Often used in the plural to describe a complex or problematic situation.

## Examples

- The hikers got stuck in a deep mire of mud.
- The company found itself in a legal mire after the discovery of the hidden documents.
- The poet describes the protagonist's descent into a moral mire, where the lines between right and wrong become increasingly blurred by his own ambition.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.