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abysmal

adjective

ə-ˈbiz-məl How to pronounce abysmal (audio)
Definition of abysmalnext
1
as in terrible
extremely unsatisfactory The coach apologized for the abysmal performance of the team in the loss.

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deep
extending far downward Strange sounds echoed from the abysmal reaches of the cave.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of abysmal The gunslinger finished an abysmal 15-of-27 passing for a paltry 192 yards. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 21 Sep. 2026 None of this is to suggest Waddle was anything close to the issue for Denver during an abysmal performance in the opener. — Jesse Newell, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026 Its aimless, contrived, misogynistic, convoluted, messy, overtly long, abysmal, repetative, slow, shallow, and downright awful. — Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026 The Chiefs helped to make Denver positively abysmal on offense in its first game with coordinator Davis Webb calling the plays. — ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for abysmal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abysmal
  1. terrible
  2. deep
  3. horrible
  4. profound
  5. poor
  6. awful
  7. dismal
  8. atrocious
Adjective
  • After a terrible start in Week 1, Denver’s stingy defense returned to form.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Eventually, Håkan is forced to participate in this omnipresent bloodshed, at a terrible cost to his soul and his reputation.
    — Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of terrible
Adjective
  • Like other Vionic shoes, these have a deep heel cup to stabilize the foot and ankle.
    — Cheryl Wagemann, InStyle, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Such abandonment wounds are deep and destabilizing; the younger the child, the deeper the wound and the harder to form a sense of self and of value as an adult.
    — Eric Thomas, Sun Sentinel, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of deep
Adjective
  • Doubs had a horrible debut in the league’s season opener last week against the Seattle Seahawks.
    — Daniel Popper, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • By the time of the horrible accident in 1829, the deodand was on its way out.
    — Amelia Soth, JSTOR Daily, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of horrible
Adjective
  • Protests spilled onto the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway and lasted for days, representing a profound threat to the Israeli government.
    — Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Still, the current team does have a rare shot at shaping an orchestra that is not only reliably exciting and frequently profound but also casually bold and genuinely fun — making for a crucial presence in the city as well as at Geffen Hall.
    — Justin Davidson, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of profound
Adjective
  • Renovation will only yield temporary improvement unless the original cause of a poor-quality lawn is remedied.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The consequences of a poor performance in the takeaway department sets a very high standard for rookies, something that can only bode well for the future.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of poor
Adjective
  • The Colts got whacked by the Ravens, and their new-look defense was awful.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 20 Sep. 2026
  • In one respect, John Harbaugh seems to have brought winning football back to New York New Jersey Stadium; conversely, the Cowboys’ defense is sufficiently awful to make even the lowliest opponent look like a contender.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of awful
Adjective
  • Perhaps, with opinion polls signaling a seismic snap in the other direction and economic conditions on the Great Plains so dismal, the Republican hold on rural America is loosening.
    — Kyle Paoletta, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Following a dismal 26-14 divisional loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, Herbert's stock is officially sliding.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of dismal
Adjective
  • The alleged conduct of this defendant was way beyond atrocious and horrendous.
    — Karma Sabbah, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The Leeds forward line was helped by Newcastle’s atrocious defending and another weak clearance led to a fourth goal after 59 minutes, Noah Okafor slapping his low strike through a sea of legs into the far corner.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of atrocious

Browse Nearby Words

abysm
abysmal
abysmally
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Cite this Entry

“Abysmal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abysmal. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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