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.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 This is not worth a 5-year contract worth $10 million per season, and those within the athletic department are well-aware of what could happen if UNC puts together back-to-back abysmal seasons. — Trey Wallace Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 2026 And the gender discourse is abysmal, especially in the villages. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 9 Aug. 2026 These are producing smoke that’s creating abysmal air quality in the Pacific Northwest at large. — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026 But while The Precariat may come across as an abysmal portrait of current life that seems inescapable, the ladies of Tommy Lefroy do leave breadcrumbs of hope on the album. — Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 5 Aug. 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
  • Whether the outcome will be terrible or beautiful is unclear.
    — Robert Rubsam, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Feral pigeons are famously terrible nest builders and are drawn to buildings and roofs with features like solar panels, chimneys, eaves, and AC units to make their homes.
    — Molly Burford, Southern Living, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of terrible
Adjective
  • Core aerators remove plugs about 2 to 4 inches deep and around 1/2-inch wide, and spaced about 2 to 6 inches apart, dropping them on the lawn surface.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Lovano expressed deep gratitude to Collins for steering the festival for many years and keeping the atmosphere alive.
    — Duante Beddingfield, Freep.com, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of deep
Adjective
  • Turkish football is a chaotic, infuriating, sometimes horrible but always entertaining place.
    — Nick Miller, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The defense says their client had no control over her fatal actions despite the clear planning of the horrible event.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of horrible
Adjective
  • That’s why the emotion inside that quick hug felt so profound.
    — Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Researchers have published findings that reveal key biological insights into profound autism and offer new targets for drug development.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of profound
Adjective
  • The following season, Chelsea topped their Champions League group, but poor Premier League form saw Mourinho sacked in mid-December.
    — Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Many are in poor shape, with thin, uninsulated walls, leaky windows, old or broken swamp coolers and electrical systems that can't always handle air conditioners.
    — Alejandra Borunda, NPR, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of poor
Adjective
  • To Morrison, as well as to the filmmakers, this awful backstory makes something cathartic of his accomplishment.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
  • So the fact that there was this whole section of gay actors who weren’t allowed to do that is awful.
    — Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of awful
Adjective
  • To many researchers, this detection is really a warning of a dismal future.
    — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 31 Aug. 2026
  • This establishes a new standard of care for a cancer with a dismal 8% five-year survival rate.
    — Meghana Keshavan, STAT, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of dismal
Adjective
  • With each successive win, the Boston Red Sox have put their atrocious start to the season further behind them, but this weekend at Dodger Stadium has felt different.
    — Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The trailers looked awful, with a predictably sloppy anti-hero feel, atrocious visual effects, and an uninteresting plot and villain.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 July 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 8 Sep. 2026.

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