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

• deep
• profound

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

Air quality was abysmal to start the week in parts of the Midwest and Northeast as a result. —Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 5 Aug. 2025

The Tigers released him in early May, cutting bait after giving him a two-year $24 million that turned out to be truly abysmal. —Mike Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025

Anyone who has been a hospital patient or has visited someone in the hospital during mealtimes can attest, hospital food can be abysmal. —New Atlas, 2 Aug. 2025

On the other side, Hayes has been abysmal at the plate this season, hitting .236/.279/.290 in 392 plate appearances. —C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 31 July 2025

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