1
as in bleak
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer
a suitably dismal setting for a haunted house
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in depressing
causing unhappiness
the dismal failure of our hopes for the championship
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in terrible
extremely unsatisfactory
the quarterback's dismal performance suggested that he had not fully recovered from his recent injury
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 dismal
Unfortunately, those are the staples of Michigan State’s offense, which ranks 17th nationally in assist rate, per KenPom, but a dismal 342nd in frequency of Isolations Including Passes and 337th in efficiency in Isolations Including Passes, per Synergy.
—
Jim Root, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
But three wins and a draw from the past six Premier League games, combined with the dismal form of the current bottom three, mean the chances of Vitor Pereira’s side being relegated have shrunk to miniscule levels.
—Steve Madeley, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
Ange Postecoglou was trudging off the field, having watched his Tottenham Hotspur side surrender to a dismal 0-2 loss at the hands of Fulham, when a fan’s complaints reached his ears.
—Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
The box office achievement is perhaps even more astonishing given China is coming off of a dismal 2024 that saw its yearly gross slide by 25% versus 2023, impacted by economic woes and a lack of locomotive movies to lead audiences into cinemas.
—Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dismal
Jim Root, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
But three wins and a draw from the past six Premier League games, combined with the dismal form of the current bottom three, mean the chances of Vitor Pereira’s side being relegated have shrunk to miniscule levels.
—Steve Madeley, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
Ange Postecoglou was trudging off the field, having watched his Tottenham Hotspur side surrender to a dismal 0-2 loss at the hands of Fulham, when a fan’s complaints reached his ears.
—Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
The box office achievement is perhaps even more astonishing given China is coming off of a dismal 2024 that saw its yearly gross slide by 25% versus 2023, impacted by economic woes and a lack of locomotive movies to lead audiences into cinemas.
—Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dismal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dismal
Adjective
-
Outside of the December slide, this is as bleak as it’s looked for the Rangers this season.—
Arthur Staple,
The Athletic,
21 Mar. 2025
-
Voters were also asked to give one word to describe the Democratic Party, and the responses were bleak.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The truth is more depressing: This show is bad in the usual manner of reality television.—
Peter Tonguette,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
21 Mar. 2025
-
That wasn’t even the most depressing of Vlasic’s quotes.—
Scott Powers,
The Athletic,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The boys now harbor a terrible secret of their own.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes,
24 Mar. 2025
-
But the point is, every team has a few terrible losses in the course of a season.—
Josh Yohe,
The Athletic,
22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The couple even hires a nanny to care for the doll but shortly after her arrival, strange occurrences begin leading them down a dark path.—
Keith Langston,
People.com,
23 Mar. 2025
-
Same goes for Lady Gaga and her fire-red McQueen gown, which hit all the right notes of dark romance.—
Christian Allaire,
Vogue,
23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Yet, whatever the deal means for Paul, Weiss, its acquiescence to Trump marks a sad day for the legal profession—or what once was a profession, and is now just another business.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2025
-
Kwong grew up hearing stories of every kind about Manzanar—scary, sad, funny and infuriating.—
Rachel Ng,
Smithsonian Magazine,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Lillard’s blood clot diagnosis continues a horrible stretch of injuries that has limited the Bucks’ ability to chase postseason glory since the Bucks ended the franchise’s 50-year championship drought by winning the 2021 NBA title.—
Sam Amick,
New York Times,
26 Mar. 2025
-
Those plans are HMOs and many of us remember how horrible those were, denying service, or stalling approval.—
Ticked Off,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Among the greater Eilish team, the sentiment is that of a somber parting, but there remains great respect and appreciation for the tremendous successes, milestones and memories shared with Rukasin and Goodman.—
Shirley Halperin,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Mar. 2025
-
The Opening Day festivities in the Bronx took on a somber tone Thursday as the Yankees honored the late son of former outfielder Brett Gardner.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The image of the 77-year-old Green screaming and shaking his cane at the president was partly disturbing but mostly pathetic.—
Matthew Continetti,
National Review,
8 Mar. 2025
-
Michael Gandolfini pops up as a slimy Fisk mayoral staffer who wouldn’t look out of place in this magazine’s recent cover featuring the new young right, and his playing both pathetic and vaguely sympathetic is very fun to watch.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
4 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dismal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dismal. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share