DREARY Synonyms: 286 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

dreary

adjective

ˈdrir-ē

Definition of dreary

as in bleak

causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer vowed that he would never take a desk job working in a dreary office

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in depressing

causing unhappiness decided to see a professional counselor in order to save their dreary marriage

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 dreary In Groff’s imagining, the real figure of Marie de France is a gangly teenager exiled by her lover, Eleanor of Aquitaine, to oversee a dreary English abbey sometime during the 12th century. — David Faris, TheWeek, 16 Sep. 2026 In a dreary and breezy Thursday evening, the Royals dropped their season finale to the Minnesota Twins. — Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 7 Aug. 2026 The novel follows Lila Dixon, an acerbic, cynical baseball scout living a dreary and closed-off life in her 30s. — Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026 The album comes accompanied by a nine-minute short film replete with the color, a supercut of dreary rural days and stormy evenings set to a three-song suite. — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for dreary

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dreary

Adjective

Things looked bleak for Keller, but the Indians kept fighting.

— Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 2026
In the exceedingly bleak ending to the book, Bela realizes that the demon has killed and styled itself after her Grandma Ruth, who lures Russell and Ursula to their death.

— William Earl, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of bleak

Adjective

There are concerted efforts to ban such devices, but they are still used with depressing frequency.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 12 Oct. 2026
Sunday’s 31-24 loss to Cincinnati – the latest miserable day during this depressing season - crystallized several issues that general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley must navigate in the days and weeks ahead.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of depressing

Adjective

Despite its tranquil reputation, knitting is anything but boring.

— Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 8 Oct. 2026
On the North Side, a site is being prepped for the digging of an access tunnel 70 feet in diameter into which a giant boring machine will begin tunneling 15 miles under and along our three rivers.

— Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of boring

Adjective

Nordic drama is still often associated internationally with crime, darker tones and a certain visual restraint.

— Marta Balaga, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026
Campaign images show close-fitting cycling jerseys paired with dark shorts, with prints ranging from yellow-green graphics to blue-and-white patterns.

— Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of dark

Adjective

But after a while, the lack of grounding gets tiring, as various supernatural shenanigans appear to be determined more by plot convenience than anything else.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
The repetition can grow tiring, but that frustration is precisely the point.

— Beverly Gage, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of tiring

Browse Nearby Words

dreariness

dreary

dreck

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Dreary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dreary. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of dreary

adjective

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

deportment

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes