Terrible rough ride! (4)

I believe the answer is:

dire

'terrible' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'rough ride' is the wordplay.
'rough' is an anagram indicator (a rough or broken ordering of the letters).
'ride' anagrammed gives 'DIRE'.

(Other definitions for dire that I've seen before include "Extremely serious or urgent" , "Ride around can be calamitous" , "Disastrous" , "Ride in dreadful state" , "Really dreadful - ride on" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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