Dismal: meaning, definitions and examples
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dismal
[ ˈdɪz.məl ]
weather
Causing gloom or depression; dreary. Lacking in brightness, vividness, or liveliness.
Synonyms
bleak, depressing, dreary, gloomy.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
---|---|
dismal |
Usually used to describe situations, conditions, or performances that are extremely poor or negative. It has a strong negative connotation.
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bleak |
Often used to describe situations or places that seem hopeless, empty, and without any positive outcome. It conveys a sense of desolation.
|
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.
|
dreary |
Generally used for environments, weather, or routines that are dull, repetitive, and boring. It emphasizes a lack of excitement or interest.
|
depressing |
Describes things that make people feel very unhappy or discouraged. Often used for experiences, news, or stories. Strong negative connotation indicating emotional impact.
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Examples of usage
- The weather was dismal, with dark clouds covering the sky.
- The dismal day made everyone feel downcast.
mood
Showing or causing gloom or depression; dreary. Depressingly inadequate or small.
Synonyms
disheartening, dispiriting, unpromising.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
---|---|
dismal |
Used to describe something that is very bad, gloomy, or depressing, often about situations or conditions.
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disheartening |
Typically used when something causes a loss of hope, morale, or confidence.
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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.
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dispiriting |
Similar to 'disheartening', but emphasizes the feeling of losing spirit and enthusiasm.
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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
- desolador
- triste
🇮🇳 निराशाजनक
- उदास
- बुरा
🇩🇪 düster
- trostlos
- traurig
🇮🇩 suram
- menyedihkan
- muram
🇺🇦 похмурий
- сумний
- гнітючий
🇵🇱 ponury
- przygnębiający
- smutny
🇯🇵 陰気な
- 悲しい
- 鬱陶しい
🇫🇷 lugubre
- désolant
- triste
🇪🇸 sombrío
- desolador
- triste
🇹🇷 kasvetli
- üzücü
- iç karartıcı
🇰🇷 음울한
- 낙담한
- 우울한
🇸🇦 كئيب
- محبط
- حزين
🇨🇿 ponurý
- bezútěšný
- smutný
🇸🇰 ponurý
- bezútešný
- smutný
🇨🇳 阴沉的
- 悲惨的
- 沮丧的
🇸🇮 mračen
- žalosten
- potrt
🇮🇸 dapurlegur
- drungalegur
- sorglegur
🇰🇿 көңілсіз
- мұңды
- қапалы
🇬🇪 მოღუშული
- სამწუხარო
- დათრგუნული
🇦🇿 qəmgin
- kədərli
- darıxdırıcı
🇲🇽 sombrío
- desolador
- triste
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.