1
as in darkly
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2
as in somberly
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Recent Examples of bleakly
Robinson is warmly theological where Ishiguro is bleakly philosophical, lyrically expansive where Ishiguro is almost blandly lucid.
—
James Wood, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
In one panel, children maimed or exhausted by labor stare out bleakly; in another, unemployed men in a small industrial town sit or stand around.
—Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026
On the sixth day of the new year, normally a bleakly depressing time for corporate employees, Enhypen had a treat in store for their fans.
—Irene Kim, Vogue, 16 Jan. 2026
Pulling all the threads together, Donald Tusk, Poland’s prime minister and a key international ally of Ukraine, saw things bleakly.
—Andrew Carey, CNN Money, 29 Nov. 2025
Where other projects have found success discussing the same notions bleakly, Etzler trusts his sardonic approach will tempt audiences to let their guards down and allow the subject matter to resonate, perhaps looking inward at their own complicity in the process.
—Holly Jones, Variety, 26 Sep. 2025
James Wood, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
In one panel, children maimed or exhausted by labor stare out bleakly; in another, unemployed men in a small industrial town sit or stand around.
—Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026
On the sixth day of the new year, normally a bleakly depressing time for corporate employees, Enhypen had a treat in store for their fans.
—Irene Kim, Vogue, 16 Jan. 2026
Pulling all the threads together, Donald Tusk, Poland’s prime minister and a key international ally of Ukraine, saw things bleakly.
—Andrew Carey, CNN Money, 29 Nov. 2025
Where other projects have found success discussing the same notions bleakly, Etzler trusts his sardonic approach will tempt audiences to let their guards down and allow the subject matter to resonate, perhaps looking inward at their own complicity in the process.
—Holly Jones, Variety, 26 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bleakly
Adverb
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In a darkly symbolic moment, he was lapped by his own teammate around Lap 54.—
Sahil Kapur,
NBC news,
7 June 2026
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Inspired by the movie, the show explores the darkly absurd side of modern-day male friendship.—
Derek Lawrence,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 June 2026
Adverb
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The race there begins somberly in the museum before runners bound up one flight of stairs into a hallway that leads into the main stairwell; from there, the steps settle into continuous, shallow right turns providing a repetitive, hypnotic cadence.—
Michelle Sinclair Colman,
Curbed,
7 May 2026
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The music came back on, and the men danced somberly to wedding music.—
Aidan McLaughlin,
Vanity Fair,
26 Apr. 2026
Adverb
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Kyle Busch was heavily involved in Brexton’s driving endeavors and looked forward to his blossoming career.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
11 June 2026
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With a full hydrotherapy circuit, including a steam room, sauna, cold plunge, and hot tub, there are 21 treatment rooms, and the program here leans heavily into massage rituals and facials.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 June 2026
Adverb
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Often overshadowed by romantic destinations like Napa Valley, Savannah, and Charleston, Key West, Florida has quietly earned a spot as one of the world’s top cities for romance.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
7 June 2026
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For women who have spent years being told that their symptoms are normal, vague, hormonal, or simply part of getting older, the experience feels quietly radical—and, for those seeking answers, perhaps worth the investment.—
Rachel Ingram,
Robb Report,
7 June 2026
Adverb
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Nearly all are unhappily married by the end of the novel.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 May 2026
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Elizabeth Banks is Lindy Littlejohn, a seriously frustrated writer, unhappily if tumultuously married to Les (Matthew Macfadyen), a brilliant scientist.—
Stephen Schaefer,
Boston Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
Adverb
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Otherwise, every one of the top draft picks Elias took from 2019-2022 – third baseman Gunnar Henderson, outfielder Colton Cowser, infielder Jackson Holliday, outfielder Heston Kjerstad and second baseman Jordan Westburg — has either underachieved or failed miserably.—
Bill Madden,
New York Daily News,
23 May 2026
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One was to pressure Iran to fully open the strait and free 1,600 commercial ships stuck in the Persian Gulf, which failed miserably.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bleakly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bleakly. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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