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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
City had 61 per cent possession and their passing accuracy in the final third was 84 per cent before the break compared to Liverpool’s dismal 43 per cent.
—
James Pearce, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Before Snapdragon Stadium and Viejas Arena, before Steve Fisher and Rocky Long and the Final Four and AztecFAST and NIL and revenue sharing and conference-hopping, San Diego State sporting events could be dismal.
—Ryan Finley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026
Pizza Hut to close hundreds of locations Business has gone cold … Pizza Hut has been struggling in a competitive market, reporting another dismal quarter.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
With Tuesday’s dismal loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, the 24-27 Bulls fell to 10th place in the Eastern Conference.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dismal
James Pearce, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Before Snapdragon Stadium and Viejas Arena, before Steve Fisher and Rocky Long and the Final Four and AztecFAST and NIL and revenue sharing and conference-hopping, San Diego State sporting events could be dismal.
—Ryan Finley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026
Pizza Hut to close hundreds of locations Business has gone cold … Pizza Hut has been struggling in a competitive market, reporting another dismal quarter.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
With Tuesday’s dismal loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, the 24-27 Bulls fell to 10th place in the Eastern Conference.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dismal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dismal
Adjective
-
The economy was looking bleak, Retter said.—
Sophie Hartley,
USA Today,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Chelsea 2-0 Burnley West Ham vs Bournemouth Quietly, from what looked like a bleak position five weeks ago, West Ham have given themselves a fighting chance of Premier League survival.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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That simple scenario is a lot less depressing.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
20 Feb. 2026
-
These could become depressing, as well as confusing.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The question was about the student section’s harassment of former Spartan Xavier Booker, which seemed like a legitimate query considering Booker had a terrible game.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
-
The move was expected because Hill, who played for the Chiefs from 2016-‘21 before being traded to the Dolphins, is recovering from a terrible knee injury.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
At the center of the space will be a central bar wrapped in wood paneling and leather accents, topped with dark stone, according to the release.—
Noelle Alviz-Gransee
February 17,
Kansas City Star,
17 Feb. 2026
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The shoes accompanied a silky black midi skirt, a simple gray sweater, a thick dark turquoise belt and a long furry gray coat worn off her shoulders.—
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
To many, this is a sad, depressing thought.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Shortly after the film begins, Jago returns home from the war alone with the sad news that Seamus has been killed.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Aston Villa 2-1 Leeds Brentford vs Brighton Brighton are playing better than a horrible run of results — one win, six draws, and six defeats in their last 13 Premier League games — suggests.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2026
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Probably one of the scenes where Stephen does horrible things to women.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The panel event, the subject of which was decided in late December, was a somber affair in the wake of the harsh crackdown by Iran’s Islamic Republic government on anti-government demonstrations on January 8 and 9, which has left thousands dead or detained.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
19 Feb. 2026
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Tone turns on a dime, the acting broad one minute, somber the next.—
Manuel Mendoza,
Dallas Morning News,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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For a film such a this to arrive in a FIFA World Cup year is a stark reminder of the entwinement between soccer and corruption, and De Pauw’s performance as Mayor Dumont — a man inclined to compartmentalize and pass the buck — is wonderfully pathetic.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
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These clowns don't even have the courage of their pathetic White supremacist convictions.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dismal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dismal. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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