mired: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1formal, literary, journalistic
Quick answer
What does “mired” mean?
to be stuck or entangled in mud or a difficult situation.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
to be stuck or entangled in mud or a difficult situation.
to be deeply involved in something problematic or unpleasant, often with a sense of stagnation or inability to progress.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is consistent across both varieties. The metaphorical use is predominant in both.
Connotations
Negative. Suggests helplessness, frustration, and lack of progress.
Frequency
Moderate frequency in written discourse (news, reports, literature). Rare in casual spoken English.
Grammar
How to Use “mired” in a Sentence
be/become/get mired in + NOUN (problems, debt, scandal)mire + OBJECT + in + NOUN (often in passive voice)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mired” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The government has become utterly mired in the details of the treaty negotiations.
- The lorry was mired in mud just outside the village.
American English
- The project got mired in budget discussions and never moved forward.
- Their truck got mired in the swamp during the hunting trip.
adjective
British English
- The mired vehicle was a sorry sight.
- After weeks of talks, we are no closer to a solution; the process is completely mired.
American English
- The mired talks have led to frustration on all sides.
- The mired legislation has been stalled in committee for a year.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The merger talks are mired in legal complexities and may be delayed for months.
Academic
The historiography of the period remains mired in nationalist interpretations.
Everyday
I'm completely mired in paperwork this week and haven't had a moment to myself.
Technical
The vehicle became mired in the clay substrate, requiring a winch for recovery.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mired”
- Using as an active verb: *'The scandal mired the company' (better: 'The company became mired in scandal').
- Using with 'by': *'mired by problems' (correct: 'mired in problems').
- Confusing with 'mired' as adjective and 'mire' as verb/noun.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Figuratively. While it literally means 'stuck in mud,' its most common use is metaphorical, meaning stuck in a difficult or stagnant situation.
Rarely. It is most frequently used in the passive voice (be/become/get mired) or as a predicative adjective. The active form 'to mire someone/something in something' is valid but less common.
'Mired' is more formal, vivid, and often implies a viscous, enveloping difficulty (like mud) from which extraction is slow and hard. 'Stuck' is more general and neutral.
Strongly negative. It describes an undesirable state of being trapped, hindered, or entangled in problems.
to be stuck or entangled in mud or a difficult situation.
Mired is usually formal, literary, journalistic in register.
Mired: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmaɪəd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmaɪərd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Stuck in the mire”
- “Drag someone/something out of the mire”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a TIRE stuck in MIRe -> MIREd.
Conceptual Metaphor
DIFFICULTIES ARE IMPEDIMENTS TO MOVEMENT (Lakoff & Johnson). A problematic situation is conceptualised as a viscous substance (mud) that traps you.
Practice
Quiz
What is the most natural preposition to use with 'mired'?