At this point the sea narrows into a strait.
Source: tatoeba (57905)
Strait
/stɹeɪt/
Synonyms for "strait" (188 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (38)
angustifoliateangustirostrateangustisellateangustiseptalarmarmletbaybayoubeltbightbindbocabottleneckboundboundedboxbreakers aheadcanalcardhousecause for alarm
Show 14 more words
Strong matches (56)
covecrampcrampedcreekcrisiscritical juncturecritical pointcrossroadscrowdedcrucial periodcrunchdangerdangerous grounddefiledemandingdifficultdifficultydilemmadisciplineddistress
Show 34 more words
embarrassing positionembarrassmentemergencyendangermentestuaryeuripusexactingexigencyextremityfine how-do-you-dofine kettle of fishfinitefiordfirthfjordfrithgaping chasmgathering cloudsgulfgutharborhazardhell to payhingehobblehot waterhouse of cardshow-do-you-doimbroglioimperilmentincapaciousincommodiousinletisthmian
Noun(2 words)
Related words (94)
isthmicisthmusjamjeopardyjuncturekylelimitedlimitinglochmeagermenacemessmixmoderatedmorassmouthnarrownarrow gaugenarrow seasnarrows
Show 60 more words
natural harbornearneckparlous straitspasspatentedperilperplexitypicklepinchplightpovertypredicamentprescribedpretty passpretty picklepretty predicamentproscribedpushquagmirequalifiedquicksandreachrestrictedrestrictingrigorousriskroadroadsroadsteadrocks aheadrubscantscantyscrapeslendersloughsoundspotsqueezestewsticky wicketstorm cloudsstraitenedstraitsswampthin icethreatthroattighttight spottight squeezetightropetricky spottroubleturnturningturning pointunholy messzero hour
Noun(13 words)
Adjective(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: angustifoliate, angustirostrate, angustisellate, angustiseptal, arm.
- Sentence evidence is available for strait, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, opengloss, derived_reverse, wordnet, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "strait".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "strait"
Keep "strait" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "strait" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "strait", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "strait" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
9 entriesMore specific
12 entriesCollocations
11 entriesgeographic featuremaritime chokepointnarrow passagenarrow waterwayshipping lanestraitened economystraitened financesstraitjacketed patientstraitjacketed policystraitlaced moralitystrategic waterway
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
5 entriessimilar
1 entriesSample sentences
33 total sentences available.
This boat sails through the Strait of Gibraltar.
Source: tatoeba (58095)
The ancestors of Native Americans went to the continent from Asia by way of the Bering Strait.
Source: tatoeba (67459)
The rail-line was carried under the Tsugaru Strait to Hokkaido.
Source: tatoeba (278767)
Showing 4 of 33 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "strait"?
Closest matches include angustifoliate, angustirostrate, angustisellate, angustiseptal, arm.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "strait"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.