Definition of drearynext
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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 dreary After eight months of looking at a dreary gray safety cover, our backyard pool opened last week. Brad Moon, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026 Following a dreary Memorial Day Weekend, this-coming weekend is looking much drier and better for all outdoor plans across the Mid-Atlantic. Cutter Martin, CBS News, 26 May 2026 The dismal, dreary weather on Sunday proved a fitting backdrop for the Boston Red Sox, whose season continues to spiral into bleak terrain. Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 24 May 2026 In fact, forecasts are looking quite favorable on Sunday in Concord after a dreary and moist few days at the racetrack. Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 24 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for dreary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dreary
Adjective
  • The goofy sketch comedies and homemade spoofs that once filled his channel gradually disappeared, replaced by melancholy short films and bleak monologues.
    Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 27 June 2026
  • Cher’s court documents paint a bleak picture of how Allman, 49, allegedly blows through his $120,000 annual trust distributions.
    Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 25 June 2026
Adjective
  • What a depressing, disturbing waste, no matter the final verdict.
    Bob Wojnowski, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 June 2026
  • After watching and enjoying the film, a somewhat depressing thought leaped into my mind.
    Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 8 June 2026
Adjective
  • Sustainable growth feels boring from the inside.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
  • The point is to make the boring stuff feel like a hangout, not to build a productivity system.
    Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 26 June 2026
Adjective
  • Tourism and city officials say that marketplace channels festival foot traffic directly to Black entrepreneurs and helps keep dollars circulating in local neighborhoods long after the stages go dark.
    Gabby Sartori, USA Today, 23 June 2026
  • Jason kept the look casual in a light blue graphic T-shirt, white shorts, a baseball cap and dark sunglasses.
    Danielle Minnetian, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2026
Adjective
  • Then Greene takes a long, sad subway ride home, and America learns that one of their favorite TV doctors isn't flawless.
    EW Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 25 June 2026
  • Local foodies were sad to hear owner Sylvia Chung (Momma Chung) retired and closed the south Fort Worth restaurant in October of last year.
    Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 June 2026
Adjective
  • This method is particularly useful for larger homes, hallways, and staircases where kneeling repeatedly would quickly become cumbersome or tiring.
    Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 13 June 2026
  • The longtime Florida coach swapped a tiring McDonald for Russell Sandefer with one out in the top of the sixth inning.
    Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 June 2026
Adjective
  • But the book’s ruminative watchfulness is unsuccessfully conjugated in this overly sedate play with music, which has the feel of a song cycle, though sung by the fine cast with gorgeous, lonely sorrow.
    Brian Seibert, New Yorker, 19 June 2026
  • One casualty was his lovely Princeton apartment, which never came together, more grad-student than dean in its feel, a lonely refrigerator in the kitchen holding only a cup of iced coffee or a jar of mayonnaise.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 June 2026
Adjective
  • After these first three majors — and after a pathetic showing this week at Shinnecock — there's no reason to bet against it.
    Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 June 2026
  • The Right Now’s Diana Levy — the executive producer of the stunt — asked reporters to spread out in a way that would make the turnout appear as sparse (and therefore pathetic) as possible.
    Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 19 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Dreary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dreary. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.

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