abysmal

[uh-biz-muh l]

See more synonyms for abysmal on Thesaurus.com

adjective

of or like an abyss; immeasurably deep or great.
extremely or hopelessly bad or severe: abysmal ignorance; abysmal poverty.

Origin of abysmal

First recorded in 1650–60; abysm + -al¹

Related formsa·bys·mal·ly, adverbul·tra-a·bys·mal, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for abysmal

Contemporary Examples

For everybody else, public schools were the only option—and these institutions often had an abysmal record.
Your Local School Doesn’t Have to Suck
Michael S. Roth
December 17, 2014
It was a mess, and when Ball exited as showrunner following the abysmal fifth season, it got even worse.
'True Blood' Ends With a Whimper: The Sexy HBO Vampire Series Is (Finally) Over
Marlow Stern
August 25, 2014
Yes, the economy remains sclerotic, work force participation is abysmal, and wages stagnate.
GOP’s Biggest 2016 Problem: Clinton’s Numbers Among White Voters
Lloyd Green
June 9, 2014
It has been, by all accounts, an abysmal year when it comes to comedy films.
June Squibb, the Curse-Happy Elderly Mom In ‘Nebraska,’ Delivers the Year’s Funniest Turn
Marlow Stern
November 15, 2013
For guys, Indiana Jones enjoyed a resurgence, thanks to the abysmal sequel that had just been released.
The Most Popular Halloween Costumes Through the Years: 1985-2013
Kevin Fallon
October 31, 2013

Historical Examples

For in them he could see no expression, no feeling, but only abysmal cruelty.
Astounding Stories of Super-Science, August 1930
Various
It seemed the top of earthly fortune to be free, and abysmal misery to have missed it.
The Prisoner
Alice Brown
There is no class of liar so abysmal as the East-end criminal Jew.
The Grell Mystery
Frank Froest
What strange, abysmal vitality informs them is beyond all speculation.
The Mutiny of the Elsinore
Jack London
But then it might all be real instead, and that was abysmal horror.
The Eternal Wall
Raymond Zinke Gallun

British Dictionary definitions for abysmal

abysmal

adjective

immeasurable; very greatabysmal stupidity
informal extremely badan abysmal film

Derived Formsabysmally, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for abysmal

adj.

1650s, formed in English from abysm + -al (1). Weakened sense of "extremely bad" is first recorded 1904, perhaps from abysmal ignorance (suggestive of its "depth"), an expression attested from 1847. Related: Abysmally.

abysmal

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}abysmal

Examples from the Web for abysmal

Contemporary Examples

For everybody else, public schools were the only option—and these institutions often had an abysmal record.

It was a mess, and when Ball exited as showrunner following the abysmal fifth season, it got even worse.

Yes, the economy remains sclerotic, work force participation is abysmal, and wages stagnate.

It has been, by all accounts, an abysmal year when it comes to comedy films.

For guys, Indiana Jones enjoyed a resurgence, thanks to the abysmal sequel that had just been released.

Historical Examples

For in them he could see no expression, no feeling, but only abysmal cruelty.

It seemed the top of earthly fortune to be free, and abysmal misery to have missed it.

There is no class of liar so abysmal as the East-end criminal Jew.

What strange, abysmal vitality informs them is beyond all speculation.

But then it might all be real instead, and that was abysmal horror.

abysmal

Word Origin and History for abysmal

adj.

Origin of abysmal