ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Dismal

Definition, Meaning & Examples

Pronunciation /ˈdɪzməl/ · Part of speech adjective

Quick meaning: Dismal is an adjective meaning Disastrous, calamitous.

Meaning

Disastrous, calamitous.

More Meanings

  1. Disappointingly inadequate.
  2. Causing despair; gloomy and bleak.
  3. Depressing, dreary, cheerless.
  4. (US, especially North Carolina, possibly dated) A dreary swamp in eastern North Carolina or Virginia in the United States.

Example Sentences

He received a dismal compensation.
The storm made for a dismal weekend
She was lost in dismal thoughts of despair
Liverpool's efforts thereafter had an air of desperation as their dismal 2012 league form continued.

Word Forms

Synonyms for dismal

Depending on context, synonyms include cataclysmic, catastrophic, ruinous, meager, paltry, awanting.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include dispiriting, depressing, disconsolate, cheerless, grim, dreary.

Related Dictionary Tools

Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.