abysmal
Americanadjective
-
of or like an abyss; immeasurably deep or great.
-
extremely or hopelessly bad or severe.
abysmal ignorance; abysmal poverty.
adjective
-
immeasurable; very great
abysmal stupidity
-
informal extremely bad
an abysmal film
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of abysmal
Explanation
If you want to say something is really, really bad — then call it abysmal. If one person shows up to your party, well then that is an abysmal turnout. The 1958 Ford Edsel? An abysmal failure. When someone describes the hole you just dug as abysmal, you may not know whether to take it as positive or negative feedback. That's because starting in the 1650s, abysmal simply meant “resembling an abyss in depth.” By that definition you've just received a compliment on your deep digging skills. But since the early twentieth century, abysmal has been more commonly used to identify something as "extremely bad." So it's more likely that your hole has just been insulted.
Vocabulary lists containing abysmal
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Six Crimson Cranes
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He opened himself up for criticism by hitting an abysmal .045—1 for 22—in the 1981 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
The right-hander brought the urgency to the mound that the Dodgers were missing during an abysmal 5-11 stretch that ended with a sweep against the Colorado Rockies this week.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2026
The food was just one instance of poor care over three months with some "abysmal failures", the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman concluded.
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026
It’s the dog days of summer, with beastly heat, no proper holidays, and an abysmal history.
From Slate ● Jul. 31, 2026
Was it Kelton who persuaded him, I wonder—or was it because I corroborated his abysmal view of humanity?
From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
