dreariness 1 of 2

dreary

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adjective

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as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest another dreary social event to suffer through

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective dreary contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of dreary are bleak, cheerless, desolate, dismal, and gloomy. While all these words mean "devoid of cheer or comfort," dreary, often interchangeable with dismal, emphasizes discouragement resulting from sustained dullness or futility.

a dreary job

When might bleak be a better fit than dreary?

The meanings of bleak and dreary largely overlap; however, bleak suggests chill, dull, and barren characteristics that utterly dishearten.

the bleak years of the depression

When can cheerless be used instead of dreary?

While in some cases nearly identical to dreary, cheerless stresses absence of anything cheering.

a drab and cheerless office

Where would desolate be a reasonable alternative to dreary?

The words desolate and dreary 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 dismal take the place of dreary?

The words dismal and dreary are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, dismal indicates extreme and utterly depressing gloominess.

dismal weather

When could gloomy be used to replace dreary?

In some situations, the words gloomy and dreary are roughly equivalent. However, 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 dreariness
Adjective
House Of The Dragon helped revive some interest, but the show’s drearier tone and slow pacing failed to capture the same magic of the original, and a disappointing second season left many feeling baffled and frustrated with the lack of momentum and changes from the source material. Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025 No nomination for Kieran Culkin, who could’ve had an awards three-peat after his Emmy and Oscar; no nominations for Gyllenhaal or Denzel Washington or anyone else involved in their dreary Shakespearean slog; and on the musical side, nothing for Nick Jonas or The Last Five Years. Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 1 May 2025 There have been some dreary performances this season — Aston Villa, Juventus, and Arsenal away from home all spring to mind — where City’s approach play felt a bit too safe, the movement from full-back into midfield quite predictable and containable in front of the opposition defence. Thom Harris, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025 Rain continues Friday After a dreary Thursday, storms are expected to continue into Friday, April 25. Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dreariness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dreariness
Adjective
  • The latest Email Threat Trends Report from VIPRE paints a bleak picture.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
  • Related article Putin just called Trump’s bluff on Ukraine, with the Russian art of the ‘no’ deal Ukraine in 2025 is a bleak prospect.
    Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 19 May 2025
Adjective
  • The mortality rates of small indie presses and literary journals are a depressing feature of our cultural landscape.
    Michael Washburn, National Review, 25 May 2025
  • Despite there being ample intrigue and mystery around what happened to Peter's first wife, the truth is pretty depressing.
    Randall Colburn, EW.com, 23 May 2025
Adjective
  • Belief that your institution is exempt from the hard, functional and often boring parts of the job leads to a slow decline.
    Carl Anka, New York Times, 22 May 2025
  • Organizations that foster a culture of self-compassion can empower their employees to better navigate stress, maintain their well-being, and - perhaps boring but no less important - adhere to safety protocols.
    Ellen Choi, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
Noun
  • For some people with mild depression, walking might even be as effective as some medications.6 High-intensity exercise releases feel-good chemicals called endorphins, which can boost your mood following a workout.
    Jennifer Steinhoff, Verywell Health, 14 May 2025
  • Advanced technologies, physical security, and an abundance of stuff [courtesy of highly advanced 3D printers] does nothing to stop a growing wave of loneliness and depression.
    G Kirilloff, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
Adjective
  • With their golden yellow rays surrounding a dark cone, Rudbeckias are quintessential summer blooms.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 22 May 2025
  • Related Stories All About Jalen Brunson's Parents, Sandra and Rick Brunson See Photos of Timothée Chalamet, Ben Affleck, Jon Bernthal and More On May 16, Chalamet wore a Chrome Hearts tracksuit in a dark navy blue.
    Starr Bowenbank, People.com, 22 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
  • Of course, all that excitement does get tiring after a while, and the dogs in side B eventually wind down for a brief nap.
    Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
  • At-home blowouts are hard; even when armed with the right tutorials and top-of-the-line tools, all the maneuvering gets tiring quickly.
    Kylee McGuigan, Vogue, 12 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • At the opposite end of the court, a thick layer of melancholy was present.
    Kelly Iko, New York Times, 16 May 2025
  • The far-reaching melancholy of musical theater has always been front and center in McAlpine’s work, which layers a lyricism of desire on top of string-heavy indie-pop arrangements.
    CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Dreariness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dreariness. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

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