bleak

adjective

ˈblēk 

bleaker; bleakest

1

: exposed and barren and often windswept

a bleak landscape

bleak soils

2

: cold, raw

a bleak November evening

3

a

: 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

bleakly adverb

bleakness noun

Synonyms

• depressing
• somber
• dark
• lonely
• desolate
• depressive
• darkening
• murky
• cold
• grey
• morbid
• solemn
• gray
• lonesome
• miserable

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

Meanwhile, things are looking bleak for John Cena’s Chris Smith. —Peter White, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025

But while these models are enthrall Environmental activist Jane Goodall, who died Wednesday at the age of 91, understood the bleak projections from climate scientists — and the economic and political structures that hinder change. —Esther Zuckerman, Time, 10 Oct. 2025

For all the talk about the front office’s reluctance to make in-season trades over the years, that often stemmed from a refusal to give up on even the bleakest seasons. —Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025

Coupled with mounting concerns about the housing market, the findings underscore the challenges facing would-be homebuyers, and paint an increasingly bleak picture for consumer sentiment as autumn begins. —Dave Smith, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English bleke pale; probably akin to Old English blāc

First Known Use

1574, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for bleak

• beak
• beek
• cheek
• chic
• clique
• creak
• creek
• eke
• freak
• geek
• greek
• leak

Kids Definition

bleak

adjective

ˈblēk 

1

: open to wind or weather

a bleak coast

2

: cold entry 1 sense 1, raw

a bleak November evening

3

: dreary, cheerless

the future looks bleak

4

: very plain

bleakly adverb

bleakness noun