dismal
10 synonyms and 4 antonyms for dismal, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Gloomy, dreary, and depressing.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use dismal
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
dismal weather
dismal failure
dismal performance
Etymology
From Old French (li) dis mals, "the bad days" — a medieval reference to certain unlucky calendar days, which by Middle English had broadened to mean "gloomy" or "dreary."
Full origin of dismal →Frequently asked questions
What does “dismal” mean?
The word “dismal” means gloomy, dreary, and depressing. In plain terms, bleak and depressing, or, when applied to results, embarrassingly bad.
How do you pronounce “dismal”?
“Dismal” is pronounced DIHZ-muhl (/ˈdɪzməl/ in IPA).
How do you use “dismal” in a sentence?
Here is “dismal” used in a sentence: “It was a dismal, rainy afternoon and nobody wanted to go outside.”
What part of speech is “dismal”?
“Dismal” is an adjective.
Where does the word “dismal” come from?
The word “dismal” comes from Old French. From Old French (li) dis mals, "the bad days" — a medieval reference to certain unlucky calendar days, which by Middle English had broadened to mean "gloomy" or "dreary.".
Is “dismal” a common word?
“Dismal” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “dismal” have?
“Dismal” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: gloomy, dreary, and depressing.
