abysmal

adjective

abys·​mal ə-ˈbiz-məl 

a-

1

a

: immeasurably low or wretched : extremely poor or bad

abysmal ignorance/poverty

abysmal living conditions

an abysmal performance

b

: having immense or fathomless extension downward, backward, or inward

an abysmal cliff

2

: abyssal sense 2

abysmally

ə-ˈbiz-mə-lē 

a-

adverb

abysmally ignorant

an abysmally poor performance

Synonyms of abysmal

• terrible
• horrible
• poor
• awful
• dismal
• atrocious

Examples of abysmal in a Sentence

They were living in abysmal ignorance.

a desperate cry echoing from the abysmal reaches of the cave

Recent Examples on the Web

Look at students’ abysmal proficiency rates in the state of Illinois and tell me a federal program is not needed. —Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2026

Kiner-Falefa then drew a walk and Duran hit a single to end the top of the lineup’s abysmal skid, putting men at first and third with one out. —Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 10 June 2026

After shooting an abysmal 1-for-8 from the 3-point line in Saturday’s loss to the Aces, Burton hit two of her seven attempts from deep and was 7-of-15 from the field. —Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 10 June 2026

The Knicks have been so abysmal for so long that their current success can largely be attributed to him. —Austin Elias-De Jesus, New Yorker, 3 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

abysm + -al entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Rhymes for abysmal

• baptismal
• aneurysmal
• paroxysmal
• dismal

Kids Definition

abysmal

adjective

abys·​mal ə-ˈbiz-məl 

1

a

: extremely poor or bad

abysmal living conditions

b

: having an immense extension downward, backward, or inward

2

: abyssal

abysmally

-mə-lē 

adverb