1
as in depressing
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer
a bleak outlook for the team for the rest of the season
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in turbulent
marked by wet and windy conditions
it was a dark and bleak wintry day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in chilly
uncomfortably cool
a bleak December morning
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bleak
When things looked bleak, KU’s offense found its footing.
—
Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2025
While there is still a chance that Sanders and Colorado can turn things around, the rest of the season is looking bleak.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
From a bleak job hunt upon her arrival in 2016 to undergoing treatment for her second bout with breast cancer during the uncertainty and fear of COVID, Davis recalls her journey through raw vulnerability and splashes of humor.
—Essence, 1 Oct. 2025
And that outlook has been looking increasingly bleak.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bleak
Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2025
While there is still a chance that Sanders and Colorado can turn things around, the rest of the season is looking bleak.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
From a bleak job hunt upon her arrival in 2016 to undergoing treatment for her second bout with breast cancer during the uncertainty and fear of COVID, Davis recalls her journey through raw vulnerability and splashes of humor.
—Essence, 1 Oct. 2025
And that outlook has been looking increasingly bleak.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bleak
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bleak
Adjective
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As a result, his work is equal parts depressing and invigorating.—
Walt Hunter,
The Atlantic,
9 Oct. 2025
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This also doesn’t imply the book is depressing or a tear-jerker—quite the opposite.—
Diana Arterian,
Literary Hub,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The Nintendo Switch era has been turbulent for the franchise, to put it mildly.—
Ryan Gaur,
Rolling Stone,
14 Oct. 2025
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Now, in an increasingly turbulent world, those barriers are going back up.—
Gordon G. Chang,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Mauricio Pochettino saw the contrast this week when the USMNT swerved from one friendly in sunny Austin to another in relatively chilly Denver.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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The unsatisfying partnerships and the chilly childhood, not-so-nurtured under British colonialism.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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These early, somber moments cast a mood, but the film is eager to hold Polly’s feet to some fire.—
J. Kim Murphy,
Variety,
11 Oct. 2025
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The primary hue associated with passion and confidence is the instant energy boost your wardrobe needs—especially during the fall and winter, when the somber mood outside often gets expressed in neutrals-heavy style.—
Andrea Zendejas,
Vogue,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Neither Alec Baldwin nor his younger brother Stephen Baldwin, who was a passenger in the Range Rover, was injured in the crash on a rainy Monday afternoon on Montauk Highway, East Hampton.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
15 Oct. 2025
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The rains were triggered by the convergence of two tropical storms churning off Mexico’s western coast, striking at the end of an unusually heavy rainy season that has left rivers overflowing and hillsides weakened.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Everyone was smoking, chilling.—
Allen Iverson,
Rolling Stone,
10 Oct. 2025
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This chilling series unravels one of the most notorious unsolved crimes of our era, now taking a turn as a major suspect heads to trial.—
Giana Levy,
Variety,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Kennedy sought the advice of doctors after dealing with severe memory loss and brain fog, reportedly leading to a scan of his brain that showed a dark spot in the imagery.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
15 Oct. 2025
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Instantly, her apartment faded away, to be replaced by a dark void.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The famed six center windows of the Saks Fifth Avenue flagship will bring scenes of New York City to life, from a snowy Central Park boat scene to a holiday tree decorated as only Saks Fifth Avenue can create.—
Lisa Lockwood,
Footwear News,
14 Oct. 2025
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The confusing feelings of anger and what was once a loving friendship lead to an engaging battle amongst the snowy grounds of a graveyard.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bleak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bleak. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
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