1
as in bleak
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer
a suitably dismal setting for a haunted house
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in depressing
causing unhappiness
the dismal failure of our hopes for the championship
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3
as in terrible
extremely unsatisfactory
the quarterback's dismal performance suggested that he had not fully recovered from his recent injury
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Recent Examples of dismal
Meanwhile, the Sun had a dismal offensive start hitting just 35.5% from the field before halftime and starting 1-for-9 from 3-point range.
—
Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 21 May 2025
Japanese companies Honda and Nissan just announced dismal quarterly earnings — and things could get worse: The numbers don’t yet factor in their hits from tariffs.
—Quartz Staff, Quartz, 13 May 2025
Schaeffer, 40, wasn’t just talking about his career opportunity, but about the team’s chance to turn around a dismal season.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 13 May 2025
After shooting a solid 45.9% from the perimeter in Game 1, the Knicks fell to just 29% in Game 2 and shot a dismal 20% in Game 3, including going just 2-for-17 (11.7%) in the first three quarters.
—Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for dismal
Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 21 May 2025
Japanese companies Honda and Nissan just announced dismal quarterly earnings — and things could get worse: The numbers don’t yet factor in their hits from tariffs.
—Quartz Staff, Quartz, 13 May 2025
Schaeffer, 40, wasn’t just talking about his career opportunity, but about the team’s chance to turn around a dismal season.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 13 May 2025
After shooting a solid 45.9% from the perimeter in Game 1, the Knicks fell to just 29% in Game 2 and shot a dismal 20% in Game 3, including going just 2-for-17 (11.7%) in the first three quarters.
—Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for dismal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dismal
Adjective
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The latest Email Threat Trends Report from VIPRE paints a bleak picture.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2025
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Related article Putin just called Trump’s bluff on Ukraine, with the Russian art of the ‘no’ deal Ukraine in 2025 is a bleak prospect.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
19 May 2025
Adjective
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The mortality rates of small indie presses and literary journals are a depressing feature of our cultural landscape.—
Michael Washburn,
National Review,
25 May 2025
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Despite there being ample intrigue and mystery around what happened to Peter's first wife, the truth is pretty depressing.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
23 May 2025
Adjective
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Djokovic knew he’d be seeded to play one of Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev or Taylor Fritz in the quarters, and in the end landed Zverev, which isn’t a terrible outcome, but would leave him with a possible Sinner-Alcaraz double bill in the semifinals and final to lift the trophy.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
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One night the fish was very overcooked and covered with a terrible sauce.—
Sheah Rarback,
Miami Herald,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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With their golden yellow rays surrounding a dark cone, Rudbeckias are quintessential summer blooms.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
22 May 2025
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Related Stories All About Jalen Brunson's Parents, Sandra and Rick Brunson See Photos of Timothée Chalamet, Ben Affleck, Jon Bernthal and More On May 16, Chalamet wore a Chrome Hearts tracksuit in a dark navy blue.—
Starr Bowenbank,
People.com,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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My back hurt from that sad excuse for a chair (seriously, who designs dining chairs to feel like medieval torture devices?).—
Renae Gregoire,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
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Stewart is still thanked by gay fans by creating such a rare, highly visible (albeit sad) representation.—
Jordan Hoffman,
EW.com,
27 May 2025
Adjective
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There’s no doubt that Lewis, abandoned as a baby by his parents, has done some horrible stuff.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
26 May 2025
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What happened to Simone as a child is horrible, and in her brain, she is therefore absolved of having anything to do with her father.—
Lauren Coates,
Variety,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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Plus, the combination of the stone fireplace and the dark wood cabinets and shelves flanking it contributed to the overall impression of a somber, too-serious space.—
Meghan Holloran,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 May 2025
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Trump will participate in the traditional wreath-laying ceremony and speak at the cemetery’s amphitheater, in what has been a somber occasion for U.S. presidents.—
Orlando Sentinel Staff,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 May 2025
Adjective
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What with weakened teams and consistently pathetic performances, their league form on both their parts has been pathetic enough to be termed a dereliction of duty.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
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Take yesterday’s left hook out of nowhere by President Donald Trump, bragging about doing something that would bust even this pathetic budget.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
21 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dismal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dismal. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
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