bleak

adjective

\ ˈblēk

Definition of bleak

1 : exposed and barren and often windswept a bleak landscape bleak soils

2 : cold, raw a bleak November evening

3a : lacking in warmth, life, or kindliness : grim a bleak prison documentary

b : not hopeful or encouraging : depressing a bleak prognosis a bleak outlook the future looks bleak

c : severely simple or austere a bleak hotel room

Other Words from bleak Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about bleak

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Choose the Right Synonym for bleak

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 bleak in a Sentence

a bleak outlook for the team for the rest of the season it was a dark and bleak wintry day

Recent Examples on the Web

Grief continues to dominate life and the future seems bleak and empty. — Alison Caporimo, Seventeen, "How To Deal With the Death Of a Parent," 14 Mar. 2019 Related Corrections & Amplifications Traders said the bleak and volatile end to 2018 was a key factor behind the market moves. — Mike Bird, WSJ, "Yen Surges After Apple Upsets the Currency Cart," 3 Jan. 2019 Chillwaukee keeps to a seasonal menu, so hibiscus supplies a pop of color during the bleak winter and into early spring, before local berries start ripening. — Carol Deptolla, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Hibiscus is the flower that's good enough to drink (and eat)," 24 Apr. 2018 The play begins in a really bleak winter — that should feel really familiar to everybody — with these two new mothers, Lina and Jessie. — Annie Alleman, chicagotribune.com, "'Cry it Out' deals with struggles of new moms," 24 Apr. 2018 With the Christmas-season rush over and the prospect of a bleak winter ahead, many restaurateurs decide to close. — Michael Klein, Philly.com, "It's January, and you may be stuck with a restaurant gift certificate," 8 Jan. 2018 If Rosa Parks showed the potential of defiance, [some historians] say, Emmett Till’s death warned of a bleak future without it. — Gabby Raymond, Time, "The Justice Department Has Reopened Its Investigation of Emmett Till's Murder. Here Are 5 Things to Know About the Case," 12 July 2018 In the 171-page sentencing memorandum filed this week, Oaks’ lawyers portrayed their client as a lifelong public servant with a bleak future. — Nicholas Bogel-burroughs, baltimoresun.com, "Convicted of corruption, former Maryland Sen. Nathaniel Oaks asks for 18-month prison sentence," 10 July 2018 The striking film stars Chloë Sevigny as Borden, a young woman stuck in a stifling home with a monstrous family and a bleak future. — Adam Rathe, Town & Country, "The Original Preppy Murder: Chloë Sevigny Takes the Lead in Her New Film About Lizzie Borden," 27 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bleak.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.