abysmal

[ uh-biz-muhl ]

adjective

1. of or like an abyss; immeasurably deep or great.
2. extremely or hopelessly bad or severe:

   abysmal ignorance; abysmal poverty.

abysmal

/ əˈbɪzməl /

adjective

1. immeasurable; very great

   abysmal stupidity

2. informal.
   extremely bad

   an abysmal film

Derived Forms

• aˈbysmally, adverb

Other Words From

• a·bysmal·ly adverb
• ultra-a·bysmal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of abysmal¹

First recorded in 1650–60; abysm + -al ¹

Example Sentences

For decades, the world has turned a blind eye to India’s abysmal human rights record.

From Time

Let’s be clear, the United States is abysmal in its human rights practices.

From Washington Blade

ExxonMobil, which reigned for years as America’s most valuable company, has had a rough time in the last few days—even by the abysmal standards of the pandemic-hammered oil industry.

From Quartz

The Duo’s 11-megapixel camera is abysmal, frankly, but can shoot portrait mode shots to varying degrees of effectiveness.

From Time

They also have a better chance of success than private equity, which has an absolutely abysmal track record in retail.

From Ozy

For everybody else, public schools were the only option—and these institutions often had an abysmal record.

From The Daily Beast

It was a mess, and when Ball exited as showrunner following the abysmal fifth season, it got even worse.

From The Daily Beast

Yes, the economy remains sclerotic, work force participation is abysmal, and wages stagnate.

From The Daily Beast

The problem is to get an attractive wrapping for such abysmal conservative ideas.

From The Daily Beast

It has been, by all accounts, an abysmal year when it comes to comedy films.

From The Daily Beast

I know the abysmal ignorance of the world and human character which, as a girl,7 you necessarily have.

From Project Gutenberg

And once the iron marker came up on a sun-baked deck icy-cold from its abysmal plunge.

From Project Gutenberg

Colleges, broken from the chain which held them in the stream of time, rushed towards the abysmal rent.

From Project Gutenberg

And as he rode at the head of his men he drew mental pictures that broadened his grin and brought into his eyes an abysmal gleam.

From Project Gutenberg

It came to me like a revelation, a revelation at once incredible and indisputable of the abysmal folly of our being.

From Project Gutenberg