abysmal

adjective

abys·​mal ə-ˈbiz-məl How to pronounce abysmal (audio)
a-
1
a
: immeasurably low or wretched : extremely poor or bad
abysmal ignorance/poverty
abysmal living conditions
an abysmal performance
b
: having immense or fathomless extension downward, backward, or inward
an abysmal cliff
2
abysmally adverb
abysmally ignorant
an abysmally poor performance

Examples of abysmal in a Sentence

They were living in abysmal ignorance. a desperate cry echoing from the abysmal reaches of the cave
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Pirates offense has been abysmal, entering Thursday's game with a combined batting average of .218, which ranked 29th in MLB, only ahead of the Chicago White Sox. Noah Camras, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025 To try to get ahead of the 2024 White Sox pace, the Rockies — an abysmal 3-22 on the road — need to pick up a couple of wins on the road trip, with the best chance at that coming in Miami. Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 23 May 2025 His directive was simple: Lighten the mood after an abysmal start and the devastating revelations of the Jenner & Block report. Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 22 May 2025 Only 35% of S & P 500 Energy constituents are above their 50-day moving average and an abysmal 30% of constituents are above their 200-day moving average. Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 22 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for abysmal

Word History

Etymology

abysm + -al entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of abysmal was circa 1656

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Abysmal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abysmal. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

abysmal

adjective
abys·​mal ə-ˈbiz-məl How to pronounce abysmal (audio)
1
a
: extremely poor or bad
abysmal living conditions
b
: having an immense extension downward, backward, or inward
2
abysmally adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on abysmal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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