abysmal
adjective
abys·mal
ə-ˈbiz-məl 
a-
1
a
: immeasurably low or wretched : extremely poor or bad
abysmal ignorance/poverty
abysmal living conditions
an abysmal performance
b
: having immense or fathomless extension downward, backward, or inward
an abysmal cliff
2
Examples of abysmal in a Sentence
They were living in abysmal ignorance.
a desperate cry echoing from the abysmal reaches of the cave
Recent Examples on the Web
Dozens of furious Nantes supporters were angry over their team’s abysmal season.
—
Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026
His abysmal 7th place in the Wood meant that he was handily bested by Albus, who won, Right to Party, who placed, and Ocelli, who went on to show handily in the Derby, a race that trainer Brown declined for Iron Honor.
—Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
That search will continue at Citi Field in Queens on Friday, where the Yankees will face a pitching staff that has been better than the Mets’ abysmal start to the season would suggest.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 14 May 2026
California’s political class has an abysmal record managing business incentives.
—Will Swaim, Oc Register, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for abysmal
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.
Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026
His abysmal 7th place in the Wood meant that he was handily bested by Albus, who won, Right to Party, who placed, and Ocelli, who went on to show handily in the Derby, a race that trainer Brown declined for Iron Honor.
—Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
That search will continue at Citi Field in Queens on Friday, where the Yankees will face a pitching staff that has been better than the Mets’ abysmal start to the season would suggest.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 14 May 2026
California’s political class has an abysmal record managing business incentives.
—Will Swaim, Oc Register, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for abysmal
Cite this Entry
“Abysmal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abysmal. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
abysmal
adjective
abys·mal
ə-ˈbiz-məl
1
a
: extremely poor or bad
abysmal living conditions
b
: having an immense extension downward, backward, or inward
2
: abyssal
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
