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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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dismal Fertility and maternal health investments—dismal to begin with—are now being slashed. Dawn Huckelbridge, Glamour, 11 May 2025 In multimillion-dollar building, formerly homeless people face ‘dismal’ conditions, suit says. Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2025 But both parties have lost support since their already dismal performances in February, with the far-right Alternative for Germany, which came in second, topping some recent surveys. Kirsti Knolle, USA Today, 7 May 2025 As a team, the Heat put together a dismal offensive effort that included only 83 points on 36 percent shooting from the field and 10-of-49 (20.4 percent) shooting on threes. Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dismal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dismal
Adjective
  • This bleak vision of Hollywood makes for a fascinating backdrop.
    Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
  • The wildest thing about these bleak anti-meet cutes is that no one does this on purpose.
    Alex Abad-Santos, Vox, 3 May 2025
Adjective
  • Instead, Chernow devotes a hefty portion of his 1,039 pages (excluding notes) to Twain’s personal tribulations, a depressing series of bungles and calamities starting in the author’s middle age.
    Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 9 May 2025
  • The lack of business on Sunday and Monday nights could be especially depressing.
    Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2025
Adjective
  • Transgender kids, especially under the current president, are facing terrible rights losses and bigotry.
    Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 May 2025
  • Such legislation is meant to destabilize Pakistan’s internal politics, which is in no one’s interests, except those who promoted such a terrible idea in the first place.
    Christopher Shays, New York Daily News, 10 May 2025
Adjective
  • Large amounts of larvae were in dark crevices inside the homes, including under appliances or furniture.
    Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 10 May 2025
  • Where to watch: Max 'Another Simple Favor' In Paul Feig's dark comedy mystery sequel, crime-solving mommy vlogger Stephanie (Anna Kendrick) is shocked when fresh-out-of-jail frenemy Emily (Blake Lively) invites her to be maid of honor at her wedding in Capri.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 10 May 2025
Adjective
  • For someone who prizes roadside Americana, this is the visual version of the sad trombone sound.
    Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025
  • After the show, there's booze, girls, and hotel suites, but Abel's locked in the bathroom, being sad.
    Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • However, her tragic demise spooks and haunts Jen, since her death is incredibly horrible and sad, rocking the whole Capesode community.
    Lisa Stardust, People.com, 14 May 2025
  • Jurors viewed for a fifth time in two days the video footage of the horrible beating that followed.
    Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2025
Adjective
  • That’s the question writer-director Ari Aster’s somber comedy-Western Eddington, playing in competition here at the Cannes Film Festival, appears to be asking.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 17 May 2025
  • Rayburn partners up with local sheriff Alice Gustafson (Annabelle Wallis) in a somber yet tumultuous pursuit of a killer who uses brutal traps and primal tactics.
    Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
Adjective
  • No other governor, remember, has tried to pull off this pathetic budget stunt.
    Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 10 May 2025
  • In his last, most pathetic years, Mark Twain threw himself behind the crackpot theory that the true author of Shakespeare’s plays may have been Francis Bacon.
    Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 9 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Dismal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dismal. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

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