dreary

adjective

drea·​ry ˈdrir-ē How to pronounce dreary (audio)
drearier; dreariest
1
: feeling, displaying, or reflecting listlessness or discouragement
cheer a dreary mindGeorge Berkeley
2
: having nothing likely to provide cheer, comfort, or interest : gloomy, dismal
a cold, dreary morning
drearily adverb
dreariness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for dreary

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

Examples of dreary in a Sentence

It was a gray, dreary morning. The family struggled through dreary economic times.
Recent Examples on the Web Scott Mowbray and Anne Taylor Pittman, coauthors of 'The Global Pantry' cookbook, share their recipe for Garlic and Herb Turkey Meatballs Anne Taylor Pittman and Scott Mowbray have some tricks for turning turkey from dreary to cheery. Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024 What else explains the popularity of this dreary enterprise? Armond White, National Review, 1 Mar. 2024 Sylvain Sonnet/Gett Florida cruise vacations are on the rise To get away from the dreary climate, Americans are dreaming of sunny getaways, paired with pools, beaches, and outdoor activities. Rachel Chang, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Feb. 2024 The report comes amid a steady, dreary drumbeat of tech industry job cuts. George Avalos, The Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2024 But the Trojan fan base has regained its passion and expectations and, yes, a little bit of swagger after a dreary decade. Jim Alexander, Orange County Register, 30 Jan. 2024 Cities institutionalize neocolonial segregation, with those of immigrant origin banished to dreary suburbs, hemmed in by brutal police and overseen by corrupt officials. Nabila Ramdani, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024 This weekend, spruce up your dreary February with massive Presidents Day sales for adults and kids alike. Phoebe Sklansky, Parents, 16 Feb. 2024 Little Rock event brings together enthusiasts of colorful bricks Follow People of all ages took a break from the overcast, dreary weather this weekend and were transported to the colorful world of Lego bricks during BrickUniverse's 2024 Build It! Parker Mancino, arkansasonline.com, 5 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dreary.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English drery, from Old English drēorig sad, bloody, from drēor gore; akin to Old High German trūrēn to be sad, Goth driusan to fall

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dreary was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near dreary

Cite this Entry

“Dreary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dreary. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

dreary

adjective
drea·​ry ˈdri(ə)r-ē How to pronounce dreary (audio)
drearier
ˈdrir-ē-ər
; dreariest
: having nothing that provides cheer, comfort, or interest
drearily adverb
dreariness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on dreary

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