ABYSMAL Synonyms: 90 Similar and Opposite Words

abysmal

adjective

ə-ˈbiz-məl

Definition of abysmal

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

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 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 With Skubal and so many other players injured, their May was abysmal, the type of nightmare month that can tank an entire season. — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026 The sight of hazy skies will be familiar to those who lived through recent summers when Canadian wildfire smoke poured into the United States, including in 2023 when air quality turned abysmal for millions of Americans. — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 16 July 2026 Some individual defenders have played well, but on the whole, the defense has been abysmal, and it can’t be blamed solely on injuries to players like Lindor and Marcus Semien. — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 12 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for abysmal

Recent Examples of Synonyms for abysmal

Adjective

That is not saying that her kids are terrible, lazy, ugly, addicted to TikTok, or caught shoplifting at Brandy Melville.

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2026
The arena isn’t terrible but is below average by NHL standards.

— Josh Yohe, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of terrible

Adjective

There was no controversy about this New York win, a night after Pete Alonso's deep fly ball against the Yankees was ruled foul with the game tied.

— CBS News, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
Born and raised in Nogales, Mexico, the fourth of twelve children, Trujillo had deep community roots.

— Allie Torgan, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of deep

Adjective

Whatever cloud of innocence has hung over Jo’s life until this point is shattered, both parents struggling how to navigate the horrible experience from an emotional as well as a purely bureaucratic perspective.

— Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026
After years of seeing enough photos of fabulous wealth and horrible tragedy, these types of images cease to shock us.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of horrible

Adjective

This move, widely perceived as securing support for his 2027 re-election, has sparked a profound global North/South divide within football governance.

— Simon Chadwick, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Most European governments, unlike the current American Administration, recognize climate change as a profound threat.

— Eric Klinenberg, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of profound

Adjective

On the other lies a park in one of the Bronx’s poorest communities, built on the site of the former Yankee Stadium after the old home of the Yankees was torn down in 2009 and 2010.

— Sam Blum, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Iran’s economy was in a dire state before the war too, with poor economic conditions a key driving factor behind the anti-regime demonstrations which kicked off in the Iranian capital city Tehran in 2025.

— Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of poor

Adjective

The disease still makes lots of people feel awful for a week or two, foiling their summer vacations and forcing them to miss work and school.

— Rob Stein, NPR, 14 Aug. 2026
Singing in the shower, gardening, baking, and writing poetry (yes, even awful poetry) are all good options.

— Laura Bradley, HEALTH, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of awful

Adjective

Senga, once billed as the staff ace, has been downright dismal this season as a starter.

— Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2026
The Voyagers have been skirting this dismal fate for years now, with NASA engineers carefully monitoring each spacecraft’s power supplies and plotting out when to turn off individual instruments to keep the missions going as long as possible.

— Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 7 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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“Abysmal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abysmal. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of abysmal

adjective

Example Sentences

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