1
as in terrible
extremely unsatisfactory
The coach apologized for the abysmal performance of the team in the loss.
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2
as in deep
extending far downward
Strange sounds echoed from the abysmal reaches of the cave.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of abysmal
That abysmal batting average is a major reason why New York is back in the lottery in the first place.
—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 6 May 2026
As record-breaking heat and an abysmal snowpack raise concerns about severe wildfires, states across the fire-prone West are adding AI to their wildfire detection toolbox, banking on the technology to help save lives and property.
—Dorany Pineda, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026
The Padres’ overall offensive numbers are abysmal, and almost no one has stayed hot from the start of the season.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 May 2026
The Astros came into Thursday leading the American League in OPS, a positive aspect of their abysmal first month.
—Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for abysmal
Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 6 May 2026
As record-breaking heat and an abysmal snowpack raise concerns about severe wildfires, states across the fire-prone West are adding AI to their wildfire detection toolbox, banking on the technology to help save lives and property.
—Dorany Pineda, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026
The Padres’ overall offensive numbers are abysmal, and almost no one has stayed hot from the start of the season.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 May 2026
The Astros came into Thursday leading the American League in OPS, a positive aspect of their abysmal first month.
—Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for abysmal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abysmal
Adjective
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Residents describe ‘a terrible night’ More than 30 people were injured in the apartment building collapse, while emergency workers rescued 28 residents, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said.—
Samya Kullab,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
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And some were not kind to him on social media following the terrible first round.—
Dan Zaksheske OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
September 23 – October 22 A deeper feeling could interrupt your attempt to keep things light.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 May 2026
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Benjamín Echazarreta’s cinematography is alert to the workaday energy of the hotel as well as the eerie beauty of the setting, with its mix of fairy-tale wonder and bone-deep dread.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
Which is horrible, just that amount of women being murdered.—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
17 May 2026
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Hmmm, a book about climate change, economic hardship, labor shortages, rising food prices, and a family having a horrible time?—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
Judaism has profound ethics and principles of justice for all.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
14 May 2026
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Nowhere was his impact more profound than in journalism with the launch of CNN.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
14 May 2026
Adjective
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Harper opened a small dance studio, on Forty-sixth Street; business was poor until Bradley was hired and revamped Delroy’s act.—
Brian Seibert,
New Yorker,
13 May 2026
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Still vehicle electronics can be damaged from reverse polarity, poor or wrong connection points or voltage spikes from improper equipment.—
Hartford Courant,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2026
Adjective
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Gray has been good at home, a more reliable starter, and Painter has been awful overall.—
David Troy OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
13 May 2026
-
There was a sense of an extraordinary person and so many extraordinary people doing quite awful things throughout the year.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
Adjective
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The team finished shooting a dismal 33% from the field and 3-for-13 on 3-pointers, while Vegas hit 54% from the field and 5-for-16 beyond the arc.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
14 May 2026
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The Dream dug themselves an early hole, starting a dismal 1-of-12 from three-point range in the first quarter and missing several layups in transition.—
Christopher Harris,
CBS News,
13 May 2026
Adjective
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And as engineer and tech investor Ben Pouladian told the WSJ, the vibes around Grok are atrocious.—
Joe Wilkins,
Futurism,
14 May 2026
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Reed’s victims relished a chance at payback when the writer tried his hand at acting in the atrocious 1970 film adaptation of Gore Vidal’s novel Myra Breckinridge.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abysmal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abysmal. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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