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

America was in the midst of the Industrial Revolution, marked by 12-hour workdays, child labor and abysmal working conditions. —Jill Ebstein, Boston Herald, 31 Aug. 2025

Florida State enters as massive underdogs, however, after an abysmal 2-10 record last year. —Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Aug. 2025

Those are the abysmal odds a Powerball ticket buyer will have to overcome to win the big jackpot. —Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025

News round-up Celtic losing to Kazakhstan’s Kairat Almaty in Champions League qualifying is an abysmal result. —Phil Hay, New York Times, 27 Aug. 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