Definition of DREARY

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

Buy Photo Despite dreary and sometimes drippy skies, Philadelphia celebrated the 43rd annual Odunde Festival Sunday the way in which its late founder would have wanted: with unbridled enthusiasm for African culture. — Diane Mastrull, Philly.com, "Odunde Festival carries on, brimming with African pride as its founder would have wanted," 10 June 2018 The cold front that moves through tonight will act as a giant broom, pushing out the dreary and wet pattern we’ve been stuck with over the past several days. — Greg Porter, Washington Post, "PM Update: Heavy rain with localized flooding persists through the evening. Gorgeous weather on Monday.," 3 June 2018 Any of these bold hues will wake up a dreary space with the stroke of a paintbrush. — Lauren Smith, House Beautiful, "Interior Designers Pick Their Favorite Hues From Valspar's Colors of the Year," 19 Jan. 2018 Like March before it, April is shaping up as wet, cold and dreary. — Jeff Manning, OregonLive.com, "Cold wet spring leads to late surge at Mt. Hood ski resorts," 14 Apr. 2018 The Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, normally means the cold and dreary winter is behind us. — Brandon Miller, CNN, "The weather at the Masters is likely to be as up and down as the scores," 4 Apr. 2018 Alex Metcalfe's dark, dreary photography, while admittedly a trial to endure, well befits the gloomy setting. — Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, "'The Lighthouse': Film Review," 4 July 2018 Anyone who wants this campaign to retain a trace of Kempian iconoclasm — and be more than a dreary prelude to Newsom’s coronation — should vote Villaraigosa. — Josh Gohlke, San Francisco Chronicle, "Last Word: Endorsed by Trump and Gavin Newsom," 1 June 2018 Legal victories preserving our fundamental freedoms are ultimately meaningless if cultural pressures create a dreary intellectual conformity. — David French, National Review, "This Is How Religious Liberty Really Dies," 13 Feb. 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.