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

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

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

Word origin

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.