dismal Definition
- 1depressing, dreary, or gloomy
- 2pitifully or disgracefully bad
Using dismal: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "dismal" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The weather was dismal and rainy all week.
Example
The company's financial performance was dismal this quarter.
Example
The team's dismal record led to the coach's firing.
Example
The movie received dismal reviews from critics.
dismal Synonyms and Antonyms
Idioms Using dismal
Example
The report painted a dismal picture of the company's future.
a poor or disappointing performance
Example
The team's dismal performance led to their defeat.
Example
The country's economy has a dismal outlook due to high unemployment rates.
Phrases with dismal
a nickname for economics, coined by Scottish historian Thomas Carlyle in the 19th century
Example
Many students dread taking courses in the dismal science.
Example
Despite their best efforts, the project was a dismal failure.
dismal prospects
a future that looks bleak or unpromising
Example
The company's dismal prospects led to a drop in its stock price.
Origins of dismal
from Middle English 'dismal', meaning 'ill-omened'
Summary: dismal in Brief
The term 'dismal' [ˈdɪzməl] describes something that is depressing, dreary, or gloomy, such as the weather or a situation. It can also refer to something that is pitifully or disgracefully bad, like a company's financial performance or a team's record. 'Dismal' is often used in phrases like 'dismal failure' and idioms like 'a dismal picture,' which describe situations that are bleak or unpromising.
