What does pire in French mean?

What is the meaning of the word pire in French? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use pire in French.

The word pire in French means worse, the worst, the worst, worse, at worst, capable of good as well as bad, fear the worst, of the worst kind, worse and worse, even worse, worse still, consider a worst-case scenario, be a law unto yourself, be 's worst nightmare, there are none so deaf as those who will not hear, the least bad, the least worst, the cure is worse than the disease, not as bad as, think the worst, worst enemy, for better or for worse, fear the worst, expect the worst. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word pire

worse

adjectif (plus mauvais)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Ses notes sont pires que les tiennes.
His marks are worse than yours.

the worst

adjectif (superlatif)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
C'est le pire film que j'aie jamais vu !
That's the worst film I've ever seen!

the worst

nom masculin (le plus mauvais)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Ce n'est pas fini, le pire reste à venir.
It's not over; the worst is yet to come.

worse

adverbe (populaire (de façon plus mauvaise)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Ma sœur conduit encore pire que moi. J'ai complètement raté ma prestation, tu ne pourrais pas faire pire que moi !
My sister drives even worse than I do. I completely messed up my performance; you can't do worse than me!

at worst

locution adverbiale (dans le pire des cas)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Viens passer la soirée et je te raccompagnerai. Au pire, tu dormiras ici.
Come over for the evening and I will take you back home. The worst that can happen is that you'll end up sleeping here.

capable of good as well as bad

adjectif (tout est possible)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

fear the worst

locution verbale (avoir peur que [qch] soit grave)

of the worst kind

locution adjectivale (le pire possible)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

worse and worse

locution adverbiale (familier (en empirant)

Sa gestion du projet est vraiment de pire en pire.

even worse, worse still

locution adverbiale (emphase pour pire)

consider a worst-case scenario

locution verbale (imaginer, prévoir le pire)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

be a law unto yourself

locution verbale (être capable de tout)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
L'équipe de France de rugby est capable du pire comme du meilleur.

be 's worst nightmare

(pourrir la vie de [qqn])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

there are none so deaf as those who will not hear

(on ne peut convaincre qui n'écoute pas)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Nous lui avons expliqué plusieurs fois les dangers de la situation mais que veux-tu, il n'est pas pire sourd que celui qui ne veut pas entendre.

the least bad, the least worst

nom masculin (familier (la moins mauvaise solution)

the cure is worse than the disease

(la solution est pire que le problème)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

not as bad as

locution adverbiale (familier (mieux bien que pas bien)

think the worst

locution verbale (envisager le pire qui puisse arriver)

worst enemy

(ennemi juré)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

for better or for worse

locution adverbiale (quelque soit l'avenir)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

fear the worst

locution verbale (craindre que le pire n'arrive)

expect the worst

(craindre le pire)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

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So now that you know more about the meaning of pire in French, you can learn how to use them through selected examples and how to read them. And remember to learn the related words that we suggest. Our website is constantly updating with new words and new examples so you can look up the meanings of other words you don't know in French.

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