dreary

adjective

drea·ry | \ ˈdrir-ē

drearier; dreariest

Definition of dreary

1 : feeling, displaying, or reflecting listlessness or discouragement cheer a dreary mind— George Berkeley

2 : having nothing likely to provide cheer, comfort, or interest : gloomy, dismal a cold, dreary morning

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

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Choose the Right Synonym for dreary

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 dreary in a Sentence

It was a gray, dreary morning. The family struggled through dreary economic times.

Recent Examples on the Web

The cold, dark, dreary days of winter are finally behind us and the warm spring sun is here. — Stacey Leasca, Glamour, "Tie-Dye Nails Are Here Just in Time for Summer," 24 Apr. 2019 The weather was a bit dreary (so, typical for England) but Kate livened up the event in a gorgeous olive outfit. — Katherine J. Igoe, Marie Claire, "Kate Middleton Braves the Rain in an Olive Sportsmax Coat and Manu Atelier Clutch," 6 Mar. 2019 Not Beverly Hills, not Santa Monica, but the once-dreary intersection of Argyle Avenue and Yucca Street in Hollywood. — Roger Vincent, latimes.com, "How much has once-dreary Hollywood changed? Try $6,600 a month for a 2-bedroom apartment," 21 Apr. 2018 The high-profile lawyer wore a bright red jumpsuit by Sergio Hudson with gold Gianvito Rossi pumps, despite the dreary, snowy weather. — Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Amal Clooney Looks Like Actual Royalty for Dinner with Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace," 12 Mar. 2019 Chris JacksonGetty Images Kate Middleton and Prince William have arrived for a visit to seaside town Blackpool, and to spite the dreary weather, Kate is dressed in a vibrant outfit. — Katherine J. Igoe, Marie Claire, "Kate Middleton Braves the Rain in an Olive Sportsmax Coat and Manu Atelier Clutch," 6 Mar. 2019 Despite the harrowing circumstances—a finite supply of food, limited cellphone service, cramped quarters, and a dreary winter landscape on all sides—the atmosphere in the train has been surprisingly festive, reports CNN. — Sam Blum, Popular Mechanics, "Amtrak Train with 183 People On Board Has Been Stranded in Oregon Snow for 36 Hours," 26 Feb. 2019 For folks along the Gulf Coast and in the Southeast, a damp and dreary Memorial Day weekend is forecast, thanks to a slow-moving weather system that could become a tropical depression or storm. — Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, "Tropical storm could drench Gulf Coast over Memorial Day weekend," 23 May 2018 March came in like a lion and remained disagreeable until its damp and dreary departure, followed by April, which until just a few days ago, seemed bent on a reprise. — Rich Heileman, cleveland.com, "'Beautification & Pride' welcomes spring to Brook Park: Around The Town," 27 Apr. 2018

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