dreary

adjective

drea·​ry ˈdrir-ē How to pronounce dreary (audio)
drearier; dreariest
1
: feeling, displaying, or reflecting listlessness or discouragement
cheer a dreary mindGeorge Berkeley
2
: having nothing likely to provide cheer, comfort, or interest : gloomy, dismal
a cold, dreary morning
drearily adverb
dreariness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for dreary

dismal, dreary, bleak, gloomy, cheerless, desolate mean devoid of cheer or comfort.

dismal indicates extreme and utterly depressing gloominess.

dismal weather

dreary, often interchangeable with dismal, emphasizes discouragement resulting from sustained dullness or futility.

a dreary job

bleak suggests chill, dull, and barren characteristics that utterly dishearten.

the bleak years of the depression

gloomy often suggests lack of hope or promise.

gloomy war news

cheerless stresses absence of anything cheering.

a drab and cheerless office

desolate adds an element of utter remoteness or lack of human contact to any already disheartening aspect.

a desolate outpost

Examples of dreary in a Sentence

It was a gray, dreary morning. The family struggled through dreary economic times.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons (1932) $9 As a response to the dreary despair of the Industrial Revolution and reflective works by the likes of Charles Dickens, British literature of the early 20th century idealized pastoral, rural life. Brian Boone, Vulture, 18 June 2025 However, the father of two did just that on Father’s Day, surviving the Oakmont Country Club, one of the most difficult courses on the tour, amid dreary weather and wicked roughs to beat out a field of the world’s best. Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 17 June 2025 Against the backdrop of a dreary Boston skyline from the 14th floor of the Boston Bruins’ offices on Causeway Street, Marco Sturm was introduced as the 30th head coach of the team on Tuesday. Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 11 June 2025 Few things are more dreary than a one-person show that insists on being miserable. Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 13 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for dreary

Word History

Etymology

Middle English drery, from Old English drēorig sad, bloody, from drēor gore; akin to Old High German trūrēn to be sad, Goth driusan to fall

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dreary was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dreary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dreary. Accessed 29 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

dreary

adjective
drea·​ry ˈdri(ə)r-ē How to pronounce dreary (audio)
drearier
ˈdrir-ē-ər
; dreariest
: having nothing that provides cheer, comfort, or interest
drearily adverb
dreariness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on dreary

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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