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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Whether bundling up for a dreary day in a yellow raincoat or showcasing their goofy side in a hotdog getup, porch geese dress to impress. Isabella Milano, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2024 Bright colors can bring light to dreary days, while playful patterns and luxe-looking textures like quilting and cable knit infuse a little more intrigue into the essential accessory. Olivia Cigliano, WWD, 28 Oct. 2024 Set between the events of director Ridley Scott’s Alien from 1979 and director James Cameron’s 1986 sequel Aliens, Alien Romulus follows a group of young mining colony workers who desperately seek a way to escape their dreary existence. Tim Lammers, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024 Buried in a bland mixed-use skyscraper in the dreary Financial District downtown, an aging, if glamorous, 1929 movie palace with rotten acoustics long served as the San Diego Symphony’s disagreeable home. Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near dreary

Cite this Entry

“Dreary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dreary. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!