dismal

adjbleak, dreary, gloomy

Synonyms for dismal

adj bleak, dreary, gloomy

Antonyms for dismal

Word Origin & History

c.1400, from Anglo-French dismal (mid-13c.), from Old French (li) dis mals "(the) bad days," from Medieval Latin dies mali "evil or unlucky days" (also called dies Ægyptiaci), from Latin dies "days" (see diurnal) + mali, plural of malus "bad" (see mal-).

Through the Middle Ages, calendars marked two days of each month as unlucky, supposedly based on the ancient calculations of Egyptian astrologers (Jan. 1, 25; Feb. 4, 26; March 1, 28; April 10, 20; May 3, 25; June 10, 16; July 13, 22; Aug. 1, 30; Sept. 3, 21; Oct. 3, 22; Nov. 5, 28; Dec. 7, 22). Modern sense of "gloomy, dreary" first recorded in English 1590s, in reference to sounds. Related: Dismally.

Example Sentences fordismal

This illuminated the entire room, but in a partial and dismal manner.

Many a dismal and unhappy tale might be wrought out of its other adventures.

She felt a dismal suspicion that this was going to daunt her.

The dismal Hecate did not much like the idea of going abroad into the sunny world.

Farewell to the dismal, blood-red phantom of martial renown!

Once more he heard the dismal cry, and fancied it held a mocking note.

To the devil with this dismal darkness, wrapping itself about one with a chill!

Uncle, after making one more pause, blew a dismal wail and went on again.

These dismal shells, when they burst in the air, were like the fireworks at a fte.

Oh, the dismal moans in that dismal night in the midst of all that misery!

dismal

Synonyms for dismal

Antonyms for dismal

bleak

bleaker

bleakest

blue

cheerless

dismal

Synonyms for dismal

Antonyms for dismal

More words related to dismal

black

bleak

bleaker

bleakest

blue

cheerless