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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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
Speaking from the visitor’s dugout at Busch Stadium ahead of Tuesday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals, DeBartolo first acknowledged fan vexation as the Nationals, who are 37-53 and in last place in the National League East, torpedo toward another dismal season.
—
Katie Woo, New York Times, 9 July 2025
In Colorado’s dismal 2025 season, Goodman has been a shining light.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 6 July 2025
That’s the type of dismal history the 2025 Rockies are staring down.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 4 July 2025
The Old Trafford outfit moved quickly to secure the signing of Matheus Cunha from Wolves, upgrading its attack after a dismal 2024/25 season which saw Ruben Amorim’s team struggle badly for firepower in the final third.
—Graham Ruthven, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dismal
Katie Woo, New York Times, 9 July 2025
In Colorado’s dismal 2025 season, Goodman has been a shining light.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 6 July 2025
That’s the type of dismal history the 2025 Rockies are staring down.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 4 July 2025
The Old Trafford outfit moved quickly to secure the signing of Matheus Cunha from Wolves, upgrading its attack after a dismal 2024/25 season which saw Ruben Amorim’s team struggle badly for firepower in the final third.
—Graham Ruthven, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dismal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dismal
Adjective
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The reversal is notable because this traditionally bleak indicator had been trending more positively under Trump's second term—until now.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 July 2025
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Restaurants were closed, staff were furloughed, and the broad outlook on the hospitality industry’s future was, in a word, bleak.—
Lela London,
Forbes.com,
18 July 2025
Adjective
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For women, the situation is even more depressing with 90% of women excluded from the workforce, unable to work outside their homes.—
Natasha Lindstaedt,
Forbes.com,
17 July 2025
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And blame can be depressing; accepting responsibility for something that went terribly wrong is often painful and embarrassing.—
Olga Khazan,
The Atlantic,
14 July 2025
Adjective
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If Trump takes Powell’s scalp, most observers warn, terrible things will unfold because of the ballooning national debt.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
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There will be four questions related to easing the city’s terrible housing shortage, all useful and needed, and one useless question about moving our local elections from odd years, like this present year, to presidential contest years.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
21 July 2025
Adjective
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Transformed into a swan by the evil sorcerer Rothbart, Odette and Siegfried's love faces an impossible battle against dark forces.—
Maggie Menderski,
The Courier-Journal,
22 July 2025
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The other dark money entity paying for ads that promote a candidate is 5Plus1, which has been spending oodles on billboards and campaign literature mailed to Detroiters that promote Sheffield, the city council president.—
M.L. Elrick,
Freep.com,
21 July 2025
Adjective
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The sad reality is that Lucky really hasn't had all that much luck in his life to date.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 July 2025
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That sparked further investigation into the sad situation of socializing.—
Jeanette Hurt,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
Adjective
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Because of Denise Gough's human frailty as a woman destroyed by her own ambition and Kyle Soller's cowardice in the face of a horrible truth.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
23 July 2025
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Soak up the gall of losing, absorb the horrible information, feel it to the full, go there—and then rebound, with superb elasticity.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
22 July 2025
Adjective
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The work’s third movement offers an intriguing pizzicato section, as well moments of discordant — though not somber — unease.—
Sheila Regan,
Twin Cities,
11 July 2025
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On Wednesday, hundreds prayed, wept and held one another at a prayer service, among the first of many somber gatherings to come in the weeks ahead.—
Nadia Lathan,
Los Angeles Times,
10 July 2025
Adjective
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Phoenix assumes a pathetic and quietly arrogant demeanor as Joe, who speaks in a squeaky, exasperated cadence.—
Madison Bloom,
Pitchfork,
17 July 2025
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Flores riding high with Vikings defense Enter Flores, who was hired shortly after that pathetic performance.—
Steve Silverman,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dismal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dismal. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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