dire (adjective) – very negative, difficult or urgent

There are also direly (adverb) and direness (noun), but they aren’t used.

Here are some examples of how you can use it:

The high unemployment among youth predicts dire consequences for the economy.

The charity is in dire need of more funds.

The refugees have been evacuated to camps where they live in the direst circumstances.

The Pulverstons have 12 children and since the parents don’t work they live in dire poverty.