dismal

American  

[diz-muhl] / ˈdɪz məl /

adjective

1. causing gloom or dejection; gloomy; dreary; cheerless; melancholy.

   dismal weather.

   Antonyms:

   gay, cheerful

2. characterized by ineptness or lack of skill, competence, effectiveness, imagination, or interest; pitiful.

   Our team played a dismal game.

   Synonyms:

   dreadful, abysmal, hopeless

3. Obsolete.

   1. disastrous; calamitous.

   2. unlucky; sinister.

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noun

1. Southern U.S. a tract of swampy land, usually along the coast.

dismal British  

/ ˈdɪzməl /

adjective

1. causing gloom or depression

2. causing dismay or terror

3. of poor quality or a low standard; feeble

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Other Word Forms

• dismality noun
• dismally adverb
• dismalness noun

Etymology

Origin of dismal

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English dismale “unlucky time,” dismol day one of two days in each month considered unlucky (hence later taken as adjective), from Anglo-French dis mal, from Medieval Latin diēs malī, literally, “evil days”; diary ( def. ), mal- ( def. )

Example Sentences

Although the government shutdown subtracted about a percentage point of economic growth, the softer spending also contributed to the dismal 0.7% growth rate in inflation-adjusted gross domestic product.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

The world number 10 hit 28 unforced errors, five double faults and won just four of 21 points behind his second serve in a dismal showing.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

It wants to be wicked and outrageous but it’s really just dismal and depressing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

Things were looking pretty dismal across financial markets overnight: Crude-oil prices surged, and stocks trading in Japan and South Korea sank.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 23, 2026

These are the kinds of services that Kenna’s record was given to—and the results were dismal.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell

Related Words

• depressing
• dim
• discouraging
• disheartening
• dull
• ghastly
• horrible
• horrid
• miserable
• murky
• sad