Filed from 52 published puzzles

DIRE

Set to 29 different clues across 52 published puzzles, most often “Desperate” — The New York Times, Wednesday, 18 April 2007.

4 letters

Every clue on record, most used first

  • Desperate7 times

    The New York Times — Wednesday, 18 April 2007

  • Calamitous7 times

    The New York Times — Wednesday, 1 June 2005

  • Dreadful5 times

    The New York Times — Monday, 26 July 2004

  • Awful3 times

    The New York Times — Sunday, 3 June 2007

  • In ___ straits3 times

    The New York Times — Monday, 18 April 2005

  • Urgent2 times

    The New York Times — Tuesday, 3 February 2009

  • Life-or-death2 times

    The New York Times — Saturday, 18 October 2008

  • Acute2 times

    The New York Times — Sunday, 23 April 2006

  • Ominousonce

    The New York Times — Tuesday, 10 August 2010

  • Not just seriousonce

    The New York Times — Thursday, 14 January 2010

  • Presaging disasteronce

    The New York Times — Thursday, 3 December 2009

  • Very seriousonce

    The New York Times — Friday, 13 February 2009

Other answers to these clues