dismal

American  

[diz-muhl] / ˈdɪz məl /

adjective

1. causing gloom or dejection; gloomy; dreary; cheerless; melancholy.

   dismal weather.

   Antonyms:

   gay, cheerful

2. characterized by ineptness or lack of skill, competence, effectiveness, imagination, or interest; pitiful.

   Our team played a dismal game.

   Synonyms:

   dreadful, abysmal, hopeless

3. Obsolete.

   1. disastrous; calamitous.

   2. unlucky; sinister.

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noun

1. Southern U.S. a tract of swampy land, usually along the coast.

dismal British  

/ ˈdɪzməl /

adjective

1. causing gloom or depression

2. causing dismay or terror

3. of poor quality or a low standard; feeble

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Other Word Forms

• dismality noun
• dismally adverb
• dismalness noun

Etymology

Origin of dismal

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English dismale “unlucky time,” dismol day one of two days in each month considered unlucky (hence later taken as adjective), from Anglo-French dis mal, from Medieval Latin diēs malī, literally, “evil days”; diary ( def. ), mal- ( def. )

Example Sentences

The prospects for negotiations reopening the strait and ending the war are dismal, and there is no guarantee that force can accomplish what diplomacy cannot.

From The Wall Street Journal

Stokes has not played since the end of England's dismal Ashes defeat.

From BBC

Beaver is one of those manosphere gurus who preside over dismal power-of-positive-thinking seminars in hotel conference rooms where lost men gather for advice on how to win.

From The Wall Street Journal

The debate around England's dismal Ashes defeat continued on Monday when it was confirmed coach Brendon McCullum, director of cricket Rob Key and Test captain Ben Stokes were to remain in their posts.

From BBC

Things were looking pretty dismal across financial markets overnight: Crude-oil prices surged, and stocks trading in Japan and South Korea sank.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• depressing
• dim
• discouraging
• disheartening
• dull
• ghastly
• horrible
• horrid
• miserable
• murky
• sad