Synonyms of dismal

dismal

adjective

ˈdiz-məl 

1

as in bleak

causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer

a suitably dismal setting for a haunted house

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bleak
• depressing
• dark
• somber
• depressive
• lonely
• desolate
• darkening
• murky
• solemn
• miserable
• cold
• gray
• morbid
• lonesome
• wretched
• gloomy
• dreary
• blue
• depressed
• black
• cheerless
• dire
• sad
• glum
• lugubrious
• sullen
• morose
• disconsolate
• funereal
• forlorn
• drear
• cloudy
• oppressive
• chill
• comfortless
• sepulchral
• elegiac
• saturnine
• melancholy
• unhappy
• godforsaken
• woeful
• dreich
• desperate
• dull
• tenebrous
• hopeless
• negative
• woebegone
• grim
• dim
• discouraging
• dispiriting
• sunless
• dejected
• mournful
• dismaying
• plutonian
• tenebrific
• Cimmerian
• low
• distressful
• disheartening
• mirthless
• distressing
• melancholic
• pessimistic
• lamentable
• upsetting
• despondent
• inconsolable
• drab
• droopy
• sorrowful
• menacing
• down
• hangdog
• discomfiting
• dour
• plaintive
• colorless
• threatening
• lowering
• lowery

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• bright
• cheerful
• cheery
• friendly
• festive
• comforting
• sunshiny
• gay
• joyous
• cordial
• joyful
• merry
• buoyant
• jolly
• optimistic
• blithe
• gay
• mirthful
• hopeful
• encouraging
• cheering
• heartwarming
• blithesome
• jocund
• lighthearted
• lightsome

2

as in depressing

causing unhappiness

the dismal failure of our hopes for the championship

Synonyms & Similar Words

• depressing
• sad
• pathetic
• unfortunate
• mournful
• melancholy
• heartbreaking
• dreary
• tearful
• disturbing
• saddening
• drear
• teary
• sorry
• lamentable
• deplorable
• woeful
• heartrending
• distressful
• distressing
• disquieting
• grievous
• perturbing
• discouraging
• dispiriting
• moving
• discomforting
• affecting
• touching
• poignant
• disheartening
• discomposing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• happy
• cheery
• glad
• inspiring
• uplifting
• pleasant
• stimulating
• delightful
• heartening
• stirring
• satisfying
• welcome
• enjoyable
• agreeable
• cheering
• pleasurable
• pleasing
• exhilarating
• heartwarming
• thrilling

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

• terrible
• horrible
• poor
• awful
• abysmal
• bad
• atrocious
• lousy
• wretched
• rotten
• execrable
• sucky
• defective
• flawed
• inadequate
• miserable
• shameful
• substandard
• deficient
• insufficient
• inferior
• mediocre
• punk
• lacking
• contemptible
• worthless
• faulty
• off
• useless
• wanting
• reprehensible
• low-grade
• abominable
• valueless
• odious
• damnable
• bum
• vile
• second-rate
• fiendish

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• great
• wonderful
• marvelous
• excellent
• superior
• exceptional
• prime
• adequate
• first-class
• choice
• sufficient
• bitchin'
• premium
• satisfactory
• acceptable
• first-rate

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective dismal contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of dismal are bleak, cheerless, desolate, dreary, and gloomy. While all these words mean "devoid of cheer or comfort," dismal indicates extreme and utterly depressing gloominess.

dismal weather

When is it sensible to use bleak instead of dismal?

Although the words bleak and dismal have much in common, bleak suggests chill, dull, and barren characteristics that utterly dishearten.

the bleak years of the depression

When could cheerless be used to replace dismal?

In some situations, the words cheerless and dismal are roughly equivalent. However, cheerless stresses absence of anything cheering.

a drab and cheerless office

When can desolate be used instead of dismal?

The words desolate and dismal can be used in similar contexts, but desolate adds an element of utter remoteness or lack of human contact to any already disheartening aspect.

a desolate outpost

In what contexts can dreary take the place of dismal?

The synonyms dreary and dismal are sometimes interchangeable, but dreary, often interchangeable with dismal, emphasizes discouragement resulting from sustained dullness or futility.

a dreary job

When is gloomy a more appropriate choice than dismal?

While the synonyms gloomy and dismal are close in meaning, gloomy often suggests lack of hope or promise.

gloomy war news

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of dismal

Charlotte went 44-38 and nearly made the playoffs, reaching the final play-in game of the Eastern Conference, while Dallas went 26-56 to finish 12th in the Western Conference in a dismal season. —Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Apr. 2026

Anything below 50% favorability portends political trouble; right now Trump’s positive standing in polls hovers around a dismal 40%. —Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026

With Calum McFarlane once again installed as caretaker manager, Chelsea came into the game on a dismal run of five-straight Premier League defeats, leaving them struggling to qualify for the Champions League, but now have the chance to finish the season with silverware. —Beren Cross, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026

That’s an illustration of how much better they are now compared to their dismal 2025 season. —Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 26 Apr. 2026