bleak

¹

[ bleek ]

adjective

, bleak·er, bleak·est.

1. bare, desolate, and often windswept:

   a bleak plain.

2. cold and piercing; raw:

   a bleak wind.

3. without hope or encouragement; depressing; dreary:

   a bleak future.

bleak

²

[ bleek ]

noun

1. a European freshwater fish, Alburnus alburnus, having scales with a silvery pigment that is used in the production of artificial pearls.

bleak

¹

/ bliːk /

noun

1. any slender silvery European cyprinid fish of the genus Alburnus , esp A. lucidus , occurring in slow-flowing rivers

bleak

²

/ bliːk /

adjective

1. exposed and barren; desolate
2. cold and raw
3. offering little hope or excitement; dismal

   a bleak future

Derived Forms

• ˈbleakly, adverb
• ˈbleakness, noun

Other Words From

• bleakish adjective
• bleakly adverb
• bleakness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bleak¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English bleke “pale,” blend of variants bleche ( Old English blǣc ) and blake ( Old English blāc ); both cognate with Old Norse bleikr, German bleich; akin to bleach

Origin of bleak²

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English bleke, noun use of bleke “pale”; bleak ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of bleak¹

C15: probably from Old Norse bleikja white colour; related to Old High German bleiche bleach

Origin of bleak²

Old English blāc bright, pale; related to Old Norse bleikr white, Old High German bleih pale

Synonym Study

See austere.

Example Sentences

But as consumers shift to on-demand streaming platforms, the future of cable channels looks increasingly bleak.

From Los Angeles Times

One dives deep into the strained but anatomically accurate neck muscles and sharply delineated collar bones of St. Jerome, shown praying in the bleak wilderness.

From Los Angeles Times

But the fate of their home and those of their neighbors looked exceedingly bleak.

From Los Angeles Times

To be certain, things are still very bleak in America.

From Salon

Prof Anthony Chalmers, who is leading the second phase of the trial, said a breakthrough would be “massive” as outcomes for patients were bleak.

From BBC

Related Words

• black
• cheerless
• dark
• dismal
• grim
• hopeless
• sad