dismal
DIHZ-muhl
Dismal (adjective) means Gloomy, dreary, and depressing. Example: “It was a dismal, rainy afternoon and nobody wanted to go outside.”
adjective
1
Gloomy, dreary, and depressing.
"She was lost in dismal thoughts of despair"
"It was a dismal, rainy afternoon and nobody wanted to go outside."
2
Very poor in quality or performance.
"The team put in a dismal performance, losing five games in a row."
How to use dismal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBleak and depressing, or, when applied to results, embarrassingly bad.
Common pairings
dismal weather
dismal failure
dismal performance
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Word forms
- Plural
- dismals
- Comparative
- more dismal
- Superlative
- most dismal
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
It was a _____, rainy afternoon and nobody wanted to go outside.
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."
Synonyms
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Related words
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.
