bleak

¹

[bleek]

adjective

bleaker, bleakest 

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

Other Word Forms

• bleakish adjective
• bleakly adverb
• bleakness 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

In a statement to Salon, the senator pointed to the bleak reality facing his constituents.

Read more on Salon

It looked bleak through the first quarter Tuesday.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The catalysts are evident: inflation, high interest rates, a bleak job market, wealth inequality and stagnant wages.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

As far as the Incorrigibles were concerned, then, their tutor’s late arrival, bleak mood, and greedy appetite were all signs of a perfectly ordinary morning.

Read more on Literature

The family are staring at a bleak winter ahead, with their home turned into rubble.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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