bleak

¹

[ bleek ]

adjective

, bleak·er, bleak·est.

1. bare, desolate, and often windswept:

   a bleak plain.

2. cold and piercing; raw:

   a bleak wind.

3. without hope or encouragement; depressing; dreary:

   a bleak future.

bleak

²

[ bleek ]

noun

1. a European freshwater fish, Alburnus alburnus, having scales with a silvery pigment that is used in the production of artificial pearls.

bleak

¹

/ bliːk /

adjective

1. exposed and barren; desolate
2. cold and raw
3. offering little hope or excitement; dismal

   a bleak future

bleak

²

/ bliːk /

noun

1. any slender silvery European cyprinid fish of the genus Alburnus , esp A. lucidus , occurring in slow-flowing rivers

Derived Forms

• ˈbleakly, adverb
• ˈbleakness, noun

Other Words From

• bleakish adjective
• bleakly adverb
• bleakness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bleak¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English bleke “pale,” blend of variants bleche ( Old English blǣc ) and blake ( Old English blāc ); both cognate with Old Norse bleikr, German bleich; akin to bleach

Origin of bleak²

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English bleke, noun use of bleke “pale”; bleak ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of bleak¹

Old English blāc bright, pale; related to Old Norse bleikr white, Old High German bleih pale

Origin of bleak²

C15: probably from Old Norse bleikja white colour; related to Old High German bleiche bleach

Synonym Study

See austere.

Example Sentences

Set among the vacant houses of suburban New Mexico, the film offers a bleak perspective on the possibility of growth and renewal.

From The Daily Beast

Hitchcock saw the work of, and probably met, Murnau, the great German filmmaker--the earliest master of bleak light and shadow.

From The Daily Beast

And surprisingly, gender may also play a role in your bleak winter outlook.

From The Daily Beast

In the financing portion, the numbers are particularly bleak.

From The Daily Beast

The Garfield specials are also unique for their deadpan delivery and oftentimes bleak worldview.

From The Daily Beast

From half a block behind the man, Kip watched the messenger walk along side of the bleak walls of Tombs prison.

From Project Gutenberg

Around us rose the broken, straggling walls, bare and bleak, without a shred of ivy or wall-flower to hide their grim nakedness.

From Project Gutenberg

But there, the bleak look of what had once been full of peace and mother's love, struck cold on her heart.

From Project Gutenberg

Then at last, when the sun was near its setting and men finally felt a bleak wind biting, the Pope spoke again.

From Project Gutenberg

The land around Gallipoli on the European side of the straits is more bleak and more level.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• black
• cheerless
• dark
• dismal
• grim
• hopeless
• sad