1
as in depressing
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer
a bleak outlook for the team for the rest of the season
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in turbulent
marked by wet and windy conditions
it was a dark and bleak wintry day
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3
as in chilly
uncomfortably cool
a bleak December morning
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bleak
Some of the bleakest comedy comes from Armstrong’s deployment of Silicon Valley argot.
—
Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 4 June 2025
Though set in the 16th century, the series’ bleak observations about elitism, integrity, and the consequences when flawed people wield absolute power feel remarkably timely.
—Judy Berman, Time, 3 June 2025
More Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images One of the main reasons for the bleak month was their offensive collapse.
—Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 June 2025
The rest of the offerings fill out the slate’s idea of what bleak means to this director, and that one, and why despair comes in more than one shade of grey.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for bleak
Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 4 June 2025
Though set in the 16th century, the series’ bleak observations about elitism, integrity, and the consequences when flawed people wield absolute power feel remarkably timely.
—Judy Berman, Time, 3 June 2025
More Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images One of the main reasons for the bleak month was their offensive collapse.
—Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 June 2025
The rest of the offerings fill out the slate’s idea of what bleak means to this director, and that one, and why despair comes in more than one shade of grey.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for bleak
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bleak
Adjective
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All that matters is whether Dance Mom, a character designed in a lab to be a depressing punchline, pulls in just enough of the always-online demo to boost their numbers among younger viewers.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
30 May 2025
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Music was a way to showcase something that wasn’t depressing.—
Ramin Setoodeh,
Variety,
28 May 2025
Adjective
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The capsizing was believed to have been caused by turbulent waters from heavy recent rains.—
Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports,
Arkansas Online,
13 June 2025
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The spike in geomagnetic activity is driven primarily by a co-rotating interaction region (CIR) — a turbulent region in the solar wind in which fast-moving streams collide with slower wind ahead of them.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
12 June 2025
Adjective
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Wear it over a tank top on chilly nights or pair it with jeans for a sophisticated yet casual look.—
Shea Simmons,
People.com,
11 June 2025
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The impromptu show went on until about 4 a.m. Afterward, a bulk of guests exited the venue — as some lined up to enter — and piled up on the windy, slightly chilly street awaiting their taxis.—
Emily Burns,
Footwear News,
9 June 2025
Adjective
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The somber financial picture leaves the city caught between cutting services to the public and finding a way to raise money.—
Luis Melecio-Zambrano,
Mercury News,
5 June 2025
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The incident caused a somber scene near home plate, as Yankees teammates, coaches and personnel huddled around the always-affable 26-year-old before an ambulance took him off the field and to a nearby hospital.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
5 June 2025
Adjective
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Pollination season was windy, cold and rainy — but supply chain problems began to improve and inventory came down.—
Annika Merrilees,
Sacbee.com,
7 June 2025
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The best chance for storms in and around the city will be between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m., but rainy weather could continue after midnight, forecasters said.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
6 June 2025
Adjective
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The opening chords of the horror are chilling, and by the end it’s all crescendoed into a symphony of pain, survival, and heart.—
Matthew Jackson,
Vulture,
8 June 2025
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This adaptation doesn’t shy away from the novella’s chilling themes.—
Jamie Lang,
Variety,
6 June 2025
Adjective
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Named for the distinctive dark stripes running across the back of its head, this medium-sized goose is specially adapted for one of the most extreme migrations in the animal kingdom.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
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White, pale blue, gray, and green swimsuits can be some of the hardest swimsuits to spot in a pool, while darker colors, like navy and black, can be difficult to detect in open water.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
15 June 2025
Adjective
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Some weeks later, when the cold meant business and snowy boots squeaked down the orange halls, Emily put her hands in her coat pockets at dismissal, looking for her mittens.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2025
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Venis and his friends Randall (Steve Carell), Hugo (Jason Schwartzman) and Jeff (Ramy Youssef) watch the world go up in flames from their phones, safe at a snowy weekend retreat at Hugo’s home in Utah.—
Selome Hailu,
Variety,
31 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bleak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bleak. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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