Main Entry: dis·mal

Pronunciation: \ˈdiz-məl\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English, from dismal, noun, days marked as unlucky in medieval calendars, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin dies mali, literally, evil days

Date: 15th century

1 obsolete : disastrous, dreadful
2 : showing or causing gloom or depression
3 : lacking merit : particularly bad <a dismal performance>

— dis·mal·ly \-mə-lē\ adverb

— dis·mal·ness noun

synonyms dismal, dreary, bleak, gloomy, cheerless, desolate mean devoid of cheer or comfort. dismal indicates extreme and utterly depressing gloominess <dismal weather>. dreary, often interchangeable with dismal, emphasizes discouragement resulting from sustained dullness or futility <a dreary job>. bleak suggests chill, dull, and barren characteristics that utterly dishearten <the bleak years of the depression>. gloomy often suggests lack of hope or promise <gloomy war news>. cheerless stresses absence of anything cheering <a drab and cheerless office>. desolate adds an element of utter remoteness or lack of human contact to any already disheartening aspect <a desolate outpost>.