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.

Microsoft’s stock has come back alive after a dismal stretch that reflected fears about the company’s positioning in the current artificial-intelligence landscape.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

The league made it harder for the worst teams to secure the best prospects in a bid to disincentivize teams from copying the Sabres’ dismal playbook.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

Since his last purchase at the end of December, shares have fallen 25%, driven lower by a dismal sales forecast in March and general macroeconomic uncertainty.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

The 2025 box office ended up reaching about $8.87 billion, just barely above 2024’s already dismal total.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

The big Greek sat up in bed and his round face was dismal and reproachful.

From "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers

Vocabulary lists containing dismal

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