dismal

adjective

ˈdiz-məl How to pronounce dismal (audio)
Definition of dismalnext
1
as in bleak
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer a suitably dismal setting for a haunted house

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in depressing
causing unhappiness the dismal failure of our hopes for the championship

Synonyms & Similar Words

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3
as in terrible
extremely unsatisfactory the quarterback's dismal performance suggested that he had not fully recovered from his recent injury

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective dismal contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of dismal are bleak, cheerless, desolate, dreary, and gloomy. While all these words mean "devoid of cheer or comfort," dismal indicates extreme and utterly depressing gloominess.

dismal weather

When is it sensible to use bleak instead of dismal?

Although the words bleak and dismal have much in common, bleak suggests chill, dull, and barren characteristics that utterly dishearten.

the bleak years of the depression

When could cheerless be used to replace dismal?

In some situations, the words cheerless and dismal are roughly equivalent. However, cheerless stresses absence of anything cheering.

a drab and cheerless office

When can desolate be used instead of dismal?

The words desolate and dismal can be used in similar contexts, but desolate adds an element of utter remoteness or lack of human contact to any already disheartening aspect.

a desolate outpost

In what contexts can dreary take the place of dismal?

The synonyms dreary and dismal are sometimes interchangeable, but dreary, often interchangeable with dismal, emphasizes discouragement resulting from sustained dullness or futility.

a dreary job

When is gloomy a more appropriate choice than dismal?

While the synonyms gloomy and dismal are close in meaning, gloomy often suggests lack of hope or promise.

gloomy war news

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of dismal Both runs came in the bottom of the third, an inning that featured a fly ball lost in the sun and some dismal defense. —Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 3 Apr. 2025 On this roster, the U.S. ranked a dismal 24th in 2024, behind Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and, indeed, Canada. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2025 He's vowed to revive the domestic manufacturing industry, which has reported dismal stagflationary conditions as tariffs take effect. —Courtenay Brown, Axios, 2 Apr. 2025 Despite Illinois spending more per student than almost any other state, the educational outcomes are dismal. —Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dismal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dismal
  1. bleak
  2. depressing
  3. terrible
  4. dark
  5. sad
  6. horrible
  7. somber
  8. pathetic
Adjective
  • The coming-of-age story finds a new generation of young women in Gilead, grappling with the bleak future that awaits them.
    — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Stocks had sold off sharply last Friday, amid growing uncertainty on U.S. trade policy and a bleak inflation outlook.
    — Amala Balakrishner, CNBC, 30 Mar. 2025
Definition of bleak
Adjective
  • Some people thought that was too depressing or whatever.
    — Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Many learned the depressing answer only when trying to scan badges and getting rejected by security, which treated them more or less like trespassers.
    — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of depressing
Adjective
  • The rhetoric pushed here is that someone with a high body count has less value and will either make a terrible partner or no one will want them in the first place.
    — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
  • This is great news for our model but terrible for upsets.
    — Jordan Brenner, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of terrible
Adjective
  • The serum is a beyond-potent combination of 15 percent vitamin C, one percent vitamin E, and 0.5 percent ferulic acid formulated to brighten skin, fade dark spots and hyperpigmentation, and target fine lines and wrinkles.
    — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Starting the evening of Jan. 18, just before the ban was planned to take effect, the app went dark for 14 hours.
    — Bobby Allyn, NPR, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of dark
Adjective
  • Kwong grew up hearing stories of every kind about Manzanar—scary, sad, funny and infuriating.
    — Rachel Ng, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Mar. 2025
  • Yet, whatever the deal means for Paul, Weiss, its acquiescence to Trump marks a sad day for the legal profession—or what once was a profession, and is now just another business.
    — Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2025
Definition of sad
Adjective
  • Some veterans have impressed at the midpoint of coach Mike Norvell's spring-practice rebuilding as FSU aims to recover from last year's horrible campaign.
    — Bob Ferrante, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2025
  • But then two horrible shifts by the Wild turned the game upside down in the blink of an eye.
    — Michael Russo, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of horrible
Adjective
  • The week continues to build excitement with the Celtic Cross Mass and Ceremony (this year on Sunday, March 9) and the beautiful and somber Sgt.
    — Jessica Farthing, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2025
  • The mood at the event was anything but somber, though.
    — Kristen Bateman, Vogue, 10 Mar. 2025
Definition of somber
Adjective
  • Hechinger is the perfect choice for the role, bringing just the right of optimism and obliviousness to an endearingly pathetic dork who finds the opportunity to be heroic.
    — Peter Debruge, Variety, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Successful long ago, Shelley is no longer a selling Machine of any sort, and mostly just begs for a break in comically desperate appeals that ping-pong from belligerent to pathetic.
    — Greg Evans, Deadline, 31 Mar. 2025
Definition of pathetic

Browse Nearby Words

disloyalty
dismal
dismally
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Cite this Entry

“Dismal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dismal. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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