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

as in bleak

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 Other areas of the West, such as California, have long enacted drought-control measures, prompting some homeowners to paint their grass green rather than see the dismal reminder of their lawn’s death. — Idaho Statesman, 1 July 2026 The United States only wanted to get through its final World Cup group stage match Thursday night without an injury or a red card, while Turkey was playing for a face-saving victory to end a dismal tournament. — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 27 June 2026 The United States only wanted to get through its final World Cup group stage match Thursday night without an injury or a red card, while Turkey was playing for a face-saving victory to end a dismal tournament. — ABC News, 25 June 2026 Following West Ham United’s relegation to the Championship, a move away for Summerville would raise funds and allow the 24-year-old, who was one of the team’s brighter sparks in a dismal season, to continue playing top-flight football. — Cerys Jones, New York Times, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for dismal

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dismal

Adjective

Houssem Aouar finally spied a gap in the Austrian defence and sent Mahrez through to score, sparking jubilation before Sasa Kalajdzic’s header confirmed a ridiculous ending to a game that was dramatic, bleak and then dramatic again.

— Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 4 July 2026
Kehoe pointed to the state’s bleak finances in a statement explaining his cuts on Tuesday.

— Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026

Definition of bleak

Adjective

Thank you to everyone who read or contributed to this column over the years, who reached out to me with story ideas or tips, or complimented my terrible artwork.

— Zach Wichter, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Visitors will see his Rough Riders uniform; the 1884 diary grieving his terrible loss; and the eyeglasses case, speech and shirt from the 1912 assassination attempt against him.

— CBS News, CBS News, 1 July 2026

Definition of terrible

Adjective

As its name suggests, the product is formulated with skin care superstar retinol to smooth fine lines and crow’s feet and brighten dark circles.

— Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 7 July 2026
El Floridita and Sloppy Joe’s, tourist destinations made famous by American novelist Ernest Hemingway, sat dark and shuttered.

— Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 6 July 2026

Definition of dark

Adjective

Day broke, bathing everything in light, and so great was the vitality of the early-morning sun that even the unhappy city seemed to smile a wan, sad smile.

— Vasily Grossman, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
But SpringHill really took off in 2020, two seasons into James’ Lakers term, when The SpringHill Company went public (and the Lakers won the sad COVID-bubble NBA Championship).

— Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2026

Definition of sad

Adjective

And obviously, slavery was a terrible thing, and that was horrible.

— Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026
Horton, who married Rickman in 2012 in a private ceremony after more than 40 years together, also told the outlet that the diagnosis had been a horrible shock to them both.

— Gillian Telling, PEOPLE, 29 June 2026

Definition of horrible

Adjective

Instead, Alfonzo’s first appearance, the culmination of nine tireless years, was somber , stricken by the grief overshadowing what should’ve been a joyous moment in the Dodgers’ to the Padres.

— Liana Handler Follow, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Flying straight from the merry Riverlands into the somber halls of Dragonstone is one hell of a comedown, but Daemon never struggles to access his dark side.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 29 June 2026

Definition of somber

Adjective

Instagram Plus is social media’s newest low—a company preying on our most pathetic impulses, for the price of a small iced coffee.

— Annie Joy Williams, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026
After these first three majors — and after a pathetic showing this week at Shinnecock — there's no reason to bet against it.

— Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 June 2026

Definition of pathetic

Browse Nearby Words

disloyalty

dismal

dismally

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Dismal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dismal. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of dismal

adjective

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on dismal

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

gambol

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes