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

It’s taking this approach even though its own economic outlook is bleak over the next two years.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Comcast is unloading the channels because it believes the mature outlets face a bleak future due to pay TV cord-cutting and are an albatross weighing down its stock price.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

While the projection paints a bleak future for the world's majestic water towers, there are pragmatic consequences if the current trend continues.

Read more on Science Daily

Though born in London, Shelley lived in Scotland before writing her novel and later credited the country’s bleak landscapes with giving “airy flights” to her morbid imagination.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"The future looks very bleak," said the anchovy fisherman Captain Park, now in his late 40s.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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