1
as in depressing
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer
a bleak outlook for the team for the rest of the season
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in turbulent
marked by wet and windy conditions
it was a dark and bleak wintry day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in chilly
uncomfortably cool
a bleak December morning
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of bleak
And the prospects of staying in Colombia looked bleak once again.
—
Stefano Pozzebon, CNN, 13 Feb. 2025
Despite the exciting success of the film in festivals and among journalists and audiences around the world, however, the situation here on the ground is deteriorating rapidly and the future looks bleak.
—Basel Adra, IndieWire, 13 Feb. 2025
But most of that is over now, and the future looks fairly bleak, with Europe closing off its markets to Russian markets and NASA and Roscosmos likely ending their space station partnership by 2030.
—Ars Technica, 12 Feb. 2025
Others are barely throwaways, bleak vaudeville sketches that make a point and black out.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bleak
Stefano Pozzebon, CNN, 13 Feb. 2025
Despite the exciting success of the film in festivals and among journalists and audiences around the world, however, the situation here on the ground is deteriorating rapidly and the future looks bleak.
—Basel Adra, IndieWire, 13 Feb. 2025
But most of that is over now, and the future looks fairly bleak, with Europe closing off its markets to Russian markets and NASA and Roscosmos likely ending their space station partnership by 2030.
—Ars Technica, 12 Feb. 2025
Others are barely throwaways, bleak vaudeville sketches that make a point and black out.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bleak
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bleak
Adjective
-
That depressing fact gets reiterated many times, without much variation or additional insight, during Running Point’s 10-episode season.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
27 Feb. 2025
-
In this new techno-dating reality, the number of fights sparked by clothes being left on the floor would dramatically decrease, instead being replaced by not-at-all depressing scenes of men standing alone in their apartments talking to a speaker.—
Nic Juarez,
Vulture,
19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
His childhood was turbulent—his parents' frequent fights sometimes turned physical, with his father directing his frustrations at young Gene.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
27 Feb. 2025
-
The 1999 killing Syed and Lee both attended Woodlawn High School and had dated, broken up, reunited and broken up again in a relationship an appeals court described as turbulent.—
Chloe Atkins,
NBC News,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
During the colder months, that uniform relies on a lightweight jacket to keep me comfortable on chilly LA mornings.—
Rachel Trujillo,
People.com,
25 Feb. 2025
-
On West 57th Avenue in Olde Town Arvada, a handful of people with backpacks and belongings gathered in front of the library and soaked in the sun on a recent chilly morning, including one accompanied by a small dog wearing a sporty green jacket.—
John Aguilar,
The Denver Post,
23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Following his release, Yarden was met by his sister and father in a somber reunion.—
Mohammed Tawfeeq,
CNN,
21 Feb. 2025
-
The image of Kurdi, dead and face down in the sand, soon became a somber meme—one that, for a while, helped garner widespread sympathy and financial support for refugees landing by the thousands on Greece’s shores.—
Lauren Markham,
Harper's Magazine,
19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
In most of the U.S., the rainy season comes in spring.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2025
-
The National Weather Service says 1.27 inches of precipitation has fallen at San Diego International Airport since the rainy season began on October 1.—
Gary Robbins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Although few may recognize his name, the footage of Hill, captured on Abraham Zapruder's chilling home movie of the shooting, provided some of the most indelible images of Kennedy's assassination in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 Feb. 2025
-
Although few may recognize his name, the footage of Hill, captured on Abraham Zapruder’s chilling home movie of the assassination, provided some of the most indelible images of Kennedy’s assassination in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963.—
Jack Dura,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The fire broke out when the bus was on the corner of Cambridge and Northampton roads in the Cleveland area, filling the suburban street with a dark cloud of smoke.—
Kyla Guilfoil,
NBC News,
27 Feb. 2025
-
But doctors have begun to suspect that this year's flu season—the most severe in over 15 years—has taken a yet darker turn for children.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The scenery is just as captivating as the storytelling: Think snowcapped mountains, sweeping aerial shots of frozen fjords, pristine snowy forests, and ice shards floating in dark rivers.—
Andrea Duncan-Mao,
Vulture,
26 Feb. 2025
-
More footage from the crash showed passengers climbing out of the aircraft and stepping out onto a snowy tarmac, where powerful winds whipped past.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
19 Feb. 2025
Articles Related to bleak
Cite this Entry
“Bleak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bleak. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share