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
• darkening
• lonely
• desolate
• murky
• cold
• miserable
• grey
• gray
• solemn
• morbid
• lonesome
• wretched
• gloomy
• dreary
• blue
• black
• depressed
• cheerless
• dire
• sombre
• sad
• glum
• lugubrious
• sullen
• morose
• disconsolate
• forlorn
• drear
• funereal
• cloudy
• chill
• oppressive
• comfortless
• sepulchral
• elegiac
• saturnine
• melancholy
• tenebrous
• godforsaken
• unhappy
• woeful
• elegiacal
• dreich
• desperate
• negative
• dull
• hopeless
• grim
• woebegone
• dim
• discouraging
• dispiriting
• sunless
• dejected
• tenebrific
• plutonian
• dismaying
• Cimmerian
• low
• mournful
• distressful
• disheartening
• mirthless
• melancholic
• distressing
• pessimistic
• lamentable
• upsetting
• despondent
• inconsolable
• hangdog
• discomfiting
• drab
• droopy
• menacing
• sorrowful
• down
• dour
• plaintive
• colorless
• threatening
• lowering
• louring
• loury
• 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
• awful
• poor
• wretched
• rotten
• bad
• atrocious
• defective
• lousy
• inadequate
• sucky
• execrable
• insufficient
• miserable
• flawed
• lacking
• shameful
• substandard
• deficient
• mediocre
• punk
• inferior
• worthless
• useless
• contemptible
• off
• faulty
• wanting
• abominable
• reprehensible
• low-grade
• valueless
• odious
• damnable
• vile
• bum
• second-rate
• fiendish

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• great
• wonderful
• marvellous
• 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

Banks had been handed a starting job as a first-round pick in 2023 and maintained that role despite a dismal second season plagued by effort issues. —Dan Duggan, New York Times, 31 July 2025

Despite that dismal match — Iga Swiatek crushed Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 — Kate brought the family back for Sunday’s men’s final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, who most recently played a stirring final at the French Open in June. —Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 13 July 2025

Other, rare, bright spots All-California Classic selection Jackson Rowe was another bright spot on an otherwise dismal night, scoring 12 points and grabbing three rebounds despite playing against a larger front line. —Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 12 July 2025

The dismal figures follow a number of high-profile blows for the London Stock Exchange. —Michael Considine, CNBC, 10 July 2025