dismal

[diz-muhl] / ˈdɪz məl /

ADJECTIVE

bleak, dreary, gloomy

Synonyms

STRONGEST

depressing dim discouraging disheartening dull ghastly horrible horrid miserable murky sad

WEAK

afflictive black boring cheerless cloudy dark depressed desolate despondent dingy disagreeable dispiriting doleful dolorous forlorn frowning funereal gruesome hopeless in the pits inauspicious joyless lonesome lowering lugubrious melancholy monotonous morbid oppressive overcast shadowy somber sorrowful tedious tenebrous troublesome unfortunate unhappy

Antonyms

STRONGEST

bright cheerful clear encouraging favorable happy intelligent joyful light luminous pleasant smart

WEAK

glad hopeful

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It sounds dismal, but there’s a lot you can do to slow the aging process.

From Barron's • May 23, 2026

Muse said he expects Nvidia to return $1 trillion to shareholders over the next five years, making its latest share authorization appear a bit dismal.

From MarketWatch • May 22, 2026

Relegation may not have been confirmed with this dismal loss, but West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo recognised the Hammers "owed the fans respect and dignity".

From BBC • May 17, 2026

The party’s dismal showing in local elections last week sparked a flurry of plotting in Westminster.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 11, 2026

It was a dismal welcome for the strangers.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams

Vocabulary lists containing dismal

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Take the Bad with the Good: Bene and Mal

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Essential Academic Vocabulary for Middle School Students, List 9

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