bleaker; bleakest
1
: not warm, friendly, cheerful, etc.
The weather is bleak. [=cold, rainy, dark, etc.]
a bleak landscape
a bleak [=dismal] movie about a prison
a bleak [=dreary] concrete building with few windows
2
: not hopeful or encouraging
The future looks bleak. [=grim, depressing]
Their chances of winning the game were bleak. [=it was not likely that they would win the game]
a bleak economic climate
Cite this Entry
“Bleak.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/bleak. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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