A desperate illness.
On all fronts the Allies were in a desperate situation due to lack of materiel.
A dire emergency.

The awful war.
An awful risk.
Dire news.
A career or vengeance so direful that London was shocked.
The dread presence of the headmaster.
Polio is no longer the dreaded disease it once was.
A dreadful storm.
A fearful howling.
Horrendous explosions shook the city.
A terrible curse.