Dismal: meaning, definitions and examples

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dismal

 

[ ˈdɪz.məl ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

weather

Causing gloom or depression; dreary. Lacking in brightness, vividness, or liveliness.

Synonyms

bleak, depressing, dreary, gloomy.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
dismal

Usually used to describe situations, conditions, or performances that are extremely poor or negative. It has a strong negative connotation.

  • 'The weather was dismal, with constant rain and grey skies
  • ' 'The team's performance was dismal; they didn't score a single point
  • '
bleak

Often used to describe situations or places that seem hopeless, empty, and without any positive outcome. It conveys a sense of desolation.

  • 'The future looks bleak for the small business struggling to survive
  • ' 'The landscape was bleak, with no signs of life or vegetation
  • '
gloomy

Describes things that are dark, dim, or filled with sadness. It can be used for physical environments or moods. It conveys a sense of darkness and melancholy.

  • 'The room was gloomy, with little light coming through the windows
  • ' 'She felt gloomy after hearing the bad news
  • '
dreary

Generally used for environments, weather, or routines that are dull, repetitive, and boring. It emphasizes a lack of excitement or interest.

  • 'The office had a dreary atmosphere with its old furniture and grey walls
  • ' 'It was a dreary day with overcast skies and no sun
  • '
depressing

Describes things that make people feel very unhappy or discouraged. Often used for experiences, news, or stories. Strong negative connotation indicating emotional impact.

  • 'Watching the news every day can be quite depressing
  • ' 'The movie was depressing; it had a very sad ending
  • '

Examples of usage

  • The weather was dismal, with dark clouds covering the sky.
  • The dismal day made everyone feel downcast.
Context #2 | Adjective

mood

Showing or causing gloom or depression; dreary. Depressingly inadequate or small.

Synonyms

disheartening, dispiriting, unpromising.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
dismal

Used to describe something that is very bad, gloomy, or depressing, often about situations or conditions.

  • The weather was dismal, raining all day without a single ray of sunlight.
  • The team's performance was dismal, losing every game this season.
disheartening

Typically used when something causes a loss of hope, morale, or confidence.

  • It was disheartening to see all my hard work go to waste.
  • The news about the layoffs was disheartening to the employees.
unpromising

Used when something does not show signs of success or improvement; it often suggests a future that looks bleak or unlikely to be good.

  • The project seemed unpromising from the start, with many problems and obstacles.
  • The early reports were unpromising, making investors hesitant.
dispiriting

Similar to 'disheartening', but emphasizes the feeling of losing spirit and enthusiasm.

  • The constant criticism was dispiriting for the young artist.
  • The long, unfruitful job search was dispiriting.

Examples of usage

  • His dismal expression matched the somber atmosphere of the room.
  • The team's dismal performance disappointed their fans.

Translations

Translations of the word "dismal" in other languages:

🇵🇹 sombrio

🇮🇳 निराशाजनक

🇩🇪 düster

🇮🇩 suram

🇺🇦 похмурий

🇵🇱 ponury

🇯🇵 陰気な

🇫🇷 lugubre

🇪🇸 sombrío

🇹🇷 kasvetli

🇰🇷 음울한

🇸🇦 كئيب

🇨🇿 ponurý

🇸🇰 ponurý

🇨🇳 阴沉的

🇸🇮 mračen

🇮🇸 dapurlegur

🇰🇿 көңілсіз

🇬🇪 მოღუშული

🇦🇿 qəmgin

🇲🇽 sombrío

Etymology

The word 'dismal' originated from the Middle English word 'dismal' or 'dismale', which came from the Old French word 'dismal' meaning 'disastrous'. It has been used in English since the 15th century to describe something gloomy or depressing.

See also: dismally.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #11,751, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.