1
as in bleak
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer
a suitably dismal setting for a haunted house
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in depressing
causing unhappiness
the dismal failure of our hopes for the championship
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in terrible
extremely unsatisfactory
the quarterback's dismal performance suggested that he had not fully recovered from his recent injury
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dismal
This is the reason Sunbeam's first quarter 1998 results were dismal, causing the stock recently to collapse.
—
Matt Schifrin, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
Still, while there were improvements in the Ebola response that can be attributable to the WHO, the organization’s dismal performance during the Covid-19 pandemic suggests that these reforms remain insufficient.
—Jess Craig, Vox, 17 Feb. 2025
As is, Sherman’s spending is so egregiously dismal that baseball and the players’ union ought not stand for it.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 17 Feb. 2025
Some of us are starting the next four years with high expectations, while others' expectations are dismal indeed.
—arkansasonline.com, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dismal
Matt Schifrin, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
Still, while there were improvements in the Ebola response that can be attributable to the WHO, the organization’s dismal performance during the Covid-19 pandemic suggests that these reforms remain insufficient.
—Jess Craig, Vox, 17 Feb. 2025
As is, Sherman’s spending is so egregiously dismal that baseball and the players’ union ought not stand for it.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 17 Feb. 2025
Some of us are starting the next four years with high expectations, while others' expectations are dismal indeed.
—arkansasonline.com, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dismal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dismal
Adjective
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Even the relatively staid premiere stole a handful of grim chuckles thanks to its guest star’s exceedingly blasé delivery of impossibly bleak news.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
9 Mar. 2025
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However, experts have raised concerns about the health of the American economy, warning that the outlook for U.S. businesses and consumers may be bleak, a sentiment shared by many industry executives.—
Tommy Tuberville,
Newsweek,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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That depressing fact gets reiterated many times, without much variation or additional insight, during Running Point’s 10-episode season.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
27 Feb. 2025
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In this new techno-dating reality, the number of fights sparked by clothes being left on the floor would dramatically decrease, instead being replaced by not-at-all depressing scenes of men standing alone in their apartments talking to a speaker.—
Nic Juarez,
Vulture,
19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Since then, however, Wells Fargo has pulled back roughly 18%, as of the close on Monday, which continued a terrible recent stretch for the overall market due to economic uncertainty stemming from concern about the impact of President Donald Trump ‘s tariffs.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2025
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The New York Yankees received terrible news on Monday regarding Gerrit Cole's injury.—
Faisal Kutty,
Newsweek,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The outage was random and intermittent, lasting for 45 minutes at a time, then resuming only to go dark again for another 45 minutes.—
John Brandon,
Forbes,
11 Mar. 2025
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Boat Rocker’s slate currently comprises the likes of 1980s throwback dark comedy Video Nasty, drama series Mix Tape and Jesse Moss and Tony Gerber’s Sundance 2024 doc War Game.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Oklahoma represents the sad conclusion of the Trail of Tears, and Tulsa serves as the meeting point for tribal nations—the Osage, Muscogee, and Cherokee.—
Nicholas Lalla,
WIRED,
4 Mar. 2025
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Police sad officers began providing aid to Mitchell, but medics later pronounced him dead at the scene.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacramento Bee,
4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Some compare Sanders to Geno Smith — not flattering, but not horrible.—
Troy Renck,
Orlando Sentinel,
2 Mar. 2025
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Everybody's going to be thrown, according to , into all these horrible situations.—
Hugh Cameron,
Newsweek,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Party leaders asked their members ahead of the address to maintain a dignified and somber presence in the chamber during Trump's speech.—
Barbara Sprunt,
NPR,
6 Mar. 2025
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The mix of Black trauma and White philanthropy created a peculiar vibe in the event space, at once somber and thrilling, mournful and hopeful.—
Nicholas Lalla,
WIRED,
4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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This is pathetic, as Russia would do everything in their power to interfere in that election.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
19 Feb. 2025
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This character is just like me – funny and sad, tragic, pathetic and brave, emotionally available but all over the place.—
Stuart Miller,
Orange County Register,
18 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dismal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dismal. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
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