abysmal

[uh-biz-muhl]

adjective

1. of or like an abyss; immeasurably deep or great.

2. extremely or hopelessly bad or severe.

   abysmal ignorance; abysmal poverty.

abysmal

/ əˈbɪzməl /

adjective

1. immeasurable; very great

   abysmal stupidity

2. informal,  extremely bad

   an abysmal film

Other Word Forms

• abysmally adverb
• ultra-abysmal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of abysmal¹

First recorded in 1650–60; abysm + -al ¹

Example Sentences

After an abysmal league campaign last season, Frank has certainly brought improvement.

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Sure, performance for indexes of “dividend aristocrats” and high dividend payers has been abysmal—and it is because of AI.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Lloyd would eventually plead guilty to gross negligence manslaughter and a judge would criticise her "abysmal" approach to health and safety.

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Scores on eighth grade reading and math in national evaluations are abysmal.

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There is no player who moves on from an abysmal performance as well as Ohtani.

Read more on Los Angeles Times