DISMAL Synonyms: 206 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'dismal' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of dismal are bleak , cheerless , desolate , dreary , and gloomy . While all these words mean "devoid of cheer or comfort," dismal indicates extreme and utterly depressing gloominess. // dismal weather

Q: When is it sensible to use 'bleak' instead of 'dismal'?

Although the words bleak and dismal have much in common, bleak suggests chill, dull, and barren characteristics that utterly dishearten. // the bleak years of the depression

Q: When could 'cheerless' be used to replace 'dismal'?

In some situations, the words cheerless and dismal are roughly equivalent. However, cheerless stresses absence of anything cheering. // a drab and cheerless office

Q: When can 'desolate' be used instead of 'dismal'?

The words desolate and dismal can be used in similar contexts, but desolate adds an element of utter remoteness or lack of human contact to any already disheartening aspect. // a desolate outpost

Q: In what contexts can 'dreary' take the place of 'dismal'?

The synonyms dreary and dismal are sometimes interchangeable, but dreary , often interchangeable with dismal , emphasizes discouragement resulting from sustained dullness or futility. // a dreary job

Q: When is 'gloomy' a more appropriate choice than 'dismal'?

While the synonyms gloomy and dismal are close in meaning, gloomy often suggests lack of hope or promise. // gloomy war news

dismal

adjective

ˈdiz-məl

Definition of dismal next

as in bleak

causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer a suitably dismal setting for a haunted house

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in depressing

causing unhappiness the dismal failure of our hopes for the championship

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in terrible

extremely unsatisfactory the quarterback's dismal performance suggested that he had not fully recovered from his recent injury

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective dismal contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of dismal are bleak, cheerless, desolate, dreary, and gloomy. While all these words mean "devoid of cheer or comfort," dismal indicates extreme and utterly depressing gloominess.

dismal weather

When is it sensible to use bleak instead of dismal?

Although the words bleak and dismal have much in common, bleak suggests chill, dull, and barren characteristics that utterly dishearten.

the bleak years of the depression

When could cheerless be used to replace dismal?

In some situations, the words cheerless and dismal are roughly equivalent. However, cheerless stresses absence of anything cheering.

a drab and cheerless office

When can desolate be used instead of dismal?

The words desolate and dismal can be used in similar contexts, but desolate adds an element of utter remoteness or lack of human contact to any already disheartening aspect.

a desolate outpost

In what contexts can dreary take the place of dismal?

The synonyms dreary and dismal are sometimes interchangeable, but dreary, often interchangeable with dismal, emphasizes discouragement resulting from sustained dullness or futility.

a dreary job

When is gloomy a more appropriate choice than dismal?

While the synonyms gloomy and dismal are close in meaning, gloomy often suggests lack of hope or promise.

gloomy war news

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of dismal He's been a huge part of the Clippers' resurgence back into playoff — or, at least, play-in — contention after a dismal 6-21 start. —

CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026 With Tuesday’s dismal loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, the 24-27 Bulls fell to 10th place in the Eastern Conference. —

Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026 That’s a dismal start against its $50 million production budget. —

Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 1 Feb. 2026 The dismal snowpack will probably further intensify the long drought in the Colorado River Basin, said Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources. —

Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dismal

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dismal

Adjective

The dating scene is bleak, or at least increasingly difficult to navigate.

— Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 14 Feb. 2026
But none of them have felt as bleak or despairing as Israeli director Anat Even’s scathing cinematic essay, Collapse (Effondrement).

— Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026

Definition of bleak

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disloyalty

dismal

dismally

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“Dismal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dismal. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

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Last Updated: 15 Feb 2026 - Updated example sentences

Synonyms of dismal

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