drear 1 of 2

adjective

ˈdrir How to pronounce drear (audio)
Definition of drearnext
1
as in bleak
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer it was a drear morning in January when I went to take my driving test

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sad
causing unhappiness a barren and drear existence in a remote village

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

drear

2 of 2

noun

as in moroseness

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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 drear
Adjective
As the world begins to emerge from the drear of winter, kids especially are looking to get out of the house. — Lynne Sullivan, The Providence Journal, 14 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drear
  1. bleak
  2. sad
  3. ennui
  4. lonely
  5. depressing
  6. tedium
  7. dark
  8. pathetic
Adjective
  • Whether or not this year takes the top slot in that bleak ranking is still unclear.
    — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Its successes have provided a spark of optimism in what has otherwise been a bleak few months for Ukraine.
    — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of bleak
Adjective
  • Creel’s fellow cast members have been sending a lot of love to Haskins since the sad news of his death broke.
    — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Sep. 2026
  • In this Saved by the Bell superfan’s mind, that was not a sad thing.
    — Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of sad
Noun
  • From sickness and ennui came the writing of an algorithm that would solve the underlying mathematics of the bomb.
    — Artforum, Artforum, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Sophie Okonedo and Queen Charlotte’s India Amarteifio play the title character, whose political idealism has curdled into middle-class ennui.
    — Joe Reid, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of ennui
Adjective
  • The story follows Bobi, a 12-year-old boy born with literal dog’s paws, hidden away by his family until Carlos, a lonely, childless man, takes him in.
    — Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 29 Sep. 2026
  • From screenwriter Eric Champnella and set in 2008, Return to You follows a powerful but lonely female attorney (Lohan) who mistakenly receives a very emotional DVD sent by a dying woman to her husband (Golding).
    — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of lonely
Adjective
  • Having too many Titans on your fantasy roster is just depressing.
    — Gary Davenport, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Don’t be put off by the alarming title; this book approaches our ominous political landscape with an eye to diagnosing, not depressing.
    — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of depressing
Noun
  • That tedium could result in companies pushing uninspired and buggy products.
    — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 23 Sep. 2026
  • This is a filmmaker who simply doesn’t know when to stop, as also evidenced by the film’s bloated 142-minute running time that lets narrative tedium set in.
    — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of tedium
Adjective
  • For serious gear collectors tired of pocket clutter and dark backpack voids, this clever mobile workstation is a genuinely smart, highly functional evolution.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Nothing hits quite like a pair of $39 Levi’s jeans, and this perfectly stretchy, dark-wash option is just what the doctor ordered.
    — Annie Blackman, InStyle, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of dark
Adjective
  • The Chargers' offense mustered a pathetic 14 points all game.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 21 Sep. 2026
  • It’s also brilliantly written as a futile, pathetic rebellion by men with zero agency or purpose in their own lives.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of pathetic

Browse Nearby Words

dreamy
drear
drearily
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Cite this Entry

“Drear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drear. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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