Synonyms of dismal

dismal

adjective

ˈdiz-məl 

1

as in bleak

causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer

a suitably dismal setting for a haunted house

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bleak
• depressing
• dark
• somber
• depressive
• lonely
• desolate
• darkening
• murky
• solemn
• miserable
• cold
• gray
• morbid
• lonesome
• wretched
• gloomy
• dreary
• blue
• depressed
• black
• cheerless
• dire
• sad
• glum
• lugubrious
• sullen
• morose
• disconsolate
• funereal
• forlorn
• drear
• cloudy
• oppressive
• chill
• comfortless
• sepulchral
• elegiac
• saturnine
• melancholy
• unhappy
• godforsaken
• woeful
• dreich
• desperate
• dull
• tenebrous
• hopeless
• negative
• woebegone
• grim
• dim
• discouraging
• dispiriting
• sunless
• dejected
• mournful
• dismaying
• plutonian
• tenebrific
• Cimmerian
• low
• distressful
• disheartening
• mirthless
• distressing
• melancholic
• pessimistic
• lamentable
• upsetting
• despondent
• inconsolable
• drab
• droopy
• sorrowful
• menacing
• down
• hangdog
• discomfiting
• dour
• plaintive
• colorless
• threatening
• lowering
• lowery

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• bright
• cheerful
• cheery
• friendly
• festive
• comforting
• sunshiny
• gay
• joyous
• cordial
• joyful
• merry
• buoyant
• jolly
• optimistic
• blithe
• gay
• mirthful
• hopeful
• encouraging
• cheering
• heartwarming
• blithesome
• jocund
• lighthearted
• lightsome

2

as in depressing

causing unhappiness

the dismal failure of our hopes for the championship

Synonyms & Similar Words

• depressing
• sad
• pathetic
• unfortunate
• mournful
• melancholy
• heartbreaking
• dreary
• tearful
• disturbing
• saddening
• drear
• teary
• sorry
• lamentable
• deplorable
• woeful
• heartrending
• distressful
• distressing
• disquieting
• grievous
• perturbing
• discouraging
• dispiriting
• moving
• discomforting
• affecting
• touching
• poignant
• disheartening
• discomposing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• happy
• cheery
• glad
• inspiring
• uplifting
• pleasant
• stimulating
• delightful
• heartening
• stirring
• satisfying
• welcome
• enjoyable
• agreeable
• cheering
• pleasurable
• pleasing
• exhilarating
• heartwarming
• thrilling

3

as in terrible

extremely unsatisfactory

the quarterback's dismal performance suggested that he had not fully recovered from his recent injury

Synonyms & Similar Words

• terrible
• horrible
• poor
• awful
• abysmal
• bad
• atrocious
• lousy
• wretched
• rotten
• execrable
• sucky
• defective
• flawed
• inadequate
• miserable
• shameful
• substandard
• deficient
• insufficient
• inferior
• mediocre
• punk
• lacking
• contemptible
• worthless
• faulty
• off
• useless
• wanting
• reprehensible
• low-grade
• abominable
• valueless
• odious
• damnable
• bum
• vile
• second-rate
• fiendish

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• great
• wonderful
• marvelous
• excellent
• superior
• exceptional
• prime
• adequate
• first-class
• choice
• sufficient
• bitchin'
• premium
• satisfactory
• acceptable
• first-rate

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective dismal contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of dismal are bleak, cheerless, desolate, dreary, and gloomy. While all these words mean "devoid of cheer or comfort," dismal indicates extreme and utterly depressing gloominess.

dismal weather

When is it sensible to use bleak instead of dismal?

Although the words bleak and dismal have much in common, bleak suggests chill, dull, and barren characteristics that utterly dishearten.

the bleak years of the depression

When could cheerless be used to replace dismal?

In some situations, the words cheerless and dismal are roughly equivalent. However, cheerless stresses absence of anything cheering.

a drab and cheerless office

When can desolate be used instead of dismal?

The words desolate and dismal can be used in similar contexts, but desolate adds an element of utter remoteness or lack of human contact to any already disheartening aspect.

a desolate outpost

In what contexts can dreary take the place of dismal?

The synonyms dreary and dismal are sometimes interchangeable, but dreary, often interchangeable with dismal, emphasizes discouragement resulting from sustained dullness or futility.

a dreary job

When is gloomy a more appropriate choice than dismal?

While the synonyms gloomy and dismal are close in meaning, gloomy often suggests lack of hope or promise.

gloomy war news

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of dismal

The hope was that by moving to the low-pressure environment of Triple A, Lewis would forget about his dismal start to the season and begin implementing swing changes without worrying about results. —Dan Hayes, New York Times, 3 June 2026

Despite all that success, the outlook at country radio is still far too dismal. —Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 2 June 2026

The incentives may explain, in part, why Palo Alto Networks holds such a dismal record on say-on-pay votes. —Bloomberg, Mercury News, 2 June 2026

Since his departure, the Dolphins got teased then dumped by Nick Saban, reached rock bottom in Cam Cameron’s dismal 2007 season, went through a massive rebuild in the Bill Parcells era, which was coached by Tony Sparano. —Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 2 June 2026