bleaker; bleakest
1
: exposed and barren and often windswept
a bleak landscape
bleak soils
3
a
: lacking in warmth, life, or kindliness : grim
a bleak prison documentary
b
: not hopeful or encouraging : depressing
a bleak prognosis
a bleak outlook
the future looks bleak
c
: severely simple or austere
a bleak hotel room
bleakly
adverb
bleakness
noun
Examples of bleak in a Sentence
a bleak outlook for the team for the rest of the season
it was a dark and bleak wintry day
Recent Examples on the Web
At the same time, others who attended this year’s California Democratic Party Convention dismissed any notion that the future of the Democratic Party is bleak.
—
Linh Tat, Oc Register, 31 May 2025
The early options on the GOP side are bleak: Neither Donalds nor Casey DeSantis, the governor’s wife who’s said to be interested in succeeding him, is the moderate Florida so desperately needs now.
—Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 May 2025
But there’s no question that Milch and the writers are interested in the funny, annoying and painfully human ways that tightly joined partnerships interact in the bleakest of circumstances.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 2025
Created and written by Craig Mazin (who went on to co-create and write The Last of Us), the series is bleak, heartbreaking, and utterly haunting, yet nearly impossible to look away from.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 26 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for bleak
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Linh Tat, Oc Register, 31 May 2025
The early options on the GOP side are bleak: Neither Donalds nor Casey DeSantis, the governor’s wife who’s said to be interested in succeeding him, is the moderate Florida so desperately needs now.
—Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 May 2025
But there’s no question that Milch and the writers are interested in the funny, annoying and painfully human ways that tightly joined partnerships interact in the bleakest of circumstances.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 2025
Created and written by Craig Mazin (who went on to co-create and write The Last of Us), the series is bleak, heartbreaking, and utterly haunting, yet nearly impossible to look away from.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 26 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for bleak
Cite this Entry
“Bleak.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bleak. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bleak
adjective1
: open to wind or weather
a bleak coast
2
: cold entry 1 sense 1, raw
a bleak November evening
4
: very plain
bleakly
adverb
bleakness
noun
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