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
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
There are increasingly urgent reasons for congressional oversight of immigration jails, which have always been notorious for their abysmal conditions.
—
Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 18 June 2025
Over the last few decades, Iran has had an abysmal commercial airline safety record because of the impact of sanctions on its civilian aircraft fleet.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 17 June 2025
Brendan Reilly confronted Mayor Brandon Johnson’s finance team over who should wear the jacket for the current year’s budget, the resulting credit ratings declines and the abysmal state of the city’s books in general.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2025
However, because of their abysmal record (15-67), that improvement went largely unnoticed.
—Mat Issa, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for abysmal
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Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 18 June 2025
Over the last few decades, Iran has had an abysmal commercial airline safety record because of the impact of sanctions on its civilian aircraft fleet.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 17 June 2025
Brendan Reilly confronted Mayor Brandon Johnson’s finance team over who should wear the jacket for the current year’s budget, the resulting credit ratings declines and the abysmal state of the city’s books in general.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2025
However, because of their abysmal record (15-67), that improvement went largely unnoticed.
—Mat Issa, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for abysmal
Cite this Entry
“Abysmal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abysmal. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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