1
as in bleak
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer
a suitably dismal setting for a haunted house
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in depressing
causing unhappiness
the dismal failure of our hopes for the championship
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3
as in terrible
extremely unsatisfactory
the quarterback's dismal performance suggested that he had not fully recovered from his recent injury
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dismal
The United States only wanted to get through its final World Cup group stage match Thursday night without an injury or a red card, while Turkey was playing for a face-saving victory to end a dismal tournament.
—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
27 June 2026
The question is what lessons leftists have learned from the past dismal decade.
—
Michelle Goldberg,
Mercury News,
27 June 2026
Morning dawns gray and dismal, but the rain has almost ended.
—
Ralph Tuttle,
Outdoor Life,
25 June 2026
The United States only wanted to get through its final World Cup group stage match Thursday night without an injury or a red card, while Turkey was playing for a face-saving victory to end a dismal tournament.
—
ABC News,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for dismal
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
27 June 2026
The question is what lessons leftists have learned from the past dismal decade.
—
Michelle Goldberg,
Mercury News,
27 June 2026
Morning dawns gray and dismal, but the rain has almost ended.
—
Ralph Tuttle,
Outdoor Life,
25 June 2026
The United States only wanted to get through its final World Cup group stage match Thursday night without an injury or a red card, while Turkey was playing for a face-saving victory to end a dismal tournament.
—
ABC News,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for dismal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dismal
Adjective
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The goofy sketch comedies and homemade spoofs that once filled his channel gradually disappeared, replaced by melancholy short films and bleak monologues.
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Cher’s court documents paint a bleak picture of how Allman, 49, allegedly blows through his $120,000 annual trust distributions.
Adjective
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What a depressing, disturbing waste, no matter the final verdict.
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After watching and enjoying the film, a somewhat depressing thought leaped into my mind.
Adjective
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Thank you to everyone who read or contributed to this column over the years, who reached out to me with story ideas or tips, or complimented my terrible artwork.
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Visitors will see his Rough Riders uniform; the 1884 diary grieving his terrible loss; and the eyeglasses case, speech and shirt from the 1912 assassination attempt against him.
Adjective
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The top-of-the-line chef’s kitchen sports metallic cabinetry paired with dark marble countertops and backsplashes.
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These include rolled or folded leaf blades, a dark or blue tinge to the foliage, or lingering footprints after walking on the lawn.
Adjective
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Day broke, bathing everything in light, and so great was the vitality of the early-morning sun that even the unhappy city seemed to smile a wan, sad smile.
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But SpringHill really took off in 2020, two seasons into James’ Lakers term, when The SpringHill Company went public (and the Lakers won the sad COVID-bubble NBA Championship).
Adjective
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The Red Sox offense has been horrible this season, but Contreras has been everything the club could have hoped for.
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Your cab driver is taking you on a horrible route.
Adjective
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The film breathes in a dynamic way, the last few beats taking a startling turn toward a somber wistfulness.
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The hilltop De Smet Cemetery strikes a somber note.
Adjective
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Instagram Plus is social media’s newest low—a company preying on our most pathetic impulses, for the price of a small iced coffee.
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After these first three majors — and after a pathetic showing this week at Shinnecock — there's no reason to bet against it.
Cite this Entry
“Dismal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dismal. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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