dreary

[ dreer-ee ]

adjective

, drear·i·er, drear·i·est.

1. causing sadness or gloom.

   Synonyms: comfortless, depressing, cheerless, drear, dismal, gloomy

   Antonyms: cheerful

2. dull; boring.

   Synonyms: tiresome, wearisome, monotonous, tedious

   Antonyms: interesting

3. sorrowful; sad.

dreary

/ ˈdrɪərɪ /

adjective

1. sad or dull; dismal
2. wearying; boring
3. archaic.
   miserable

Derived Forms

• ˈdreariness, noun
• ˈdrearily, adverb

Other Words From

• dreari·ly adverb
• dreari·ness noun
• dreari·some adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dreary¹

before 900; Middle English drery, Old English drēorig gory, cruel, sad, equivalent to drēor gore + -ig -y ¹; akin to Old Norse dreyrigr bloody, German traurig sad

Word History and Origins

Origin of dreary¹

Old English drēorig gory; related to Old High German trūreg sad

Example Sentences

“Once you taste it, you may never again settle for a dreary pumpkin tart.”

From Salon

But miraculously, the San Diego Symphony has made the dreary become a destination with its renovation by architectural firm HGA and acoustician Paul Scarbrough.

From Los Angeles Times

If "Joker: Folie à Deux" had a point in its dreary two hours — it would be to serve as a manifesto for the disgruntled, single male trope that plays to men being the misunderstood victims.

From Salon

Every time I think of my old idea of midlife — that dreary pasture full of drab linens — laughter bubbles out of me.

From Los Angeles Times

But here, Phoenix — who previously showcased his powerful pipes in his Oscar-winning turn as Johnny Cash in “Walk the Line” — does so with frustrating weakness, which proves especially dreary against the lush orchestra accompanying him.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bleak
• boring
• colorless
• damp
• depressing
• dingy
• dismal
• drab
• dull
• forlorn
• humdrum
• lonely
• monotonous
• sad
• somber
• tedious
• uneventful
• uninteresting
• windy
• wintry