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View synonyms for

dismal

[ diz-muhl ]

adjective

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

    dismal weather.

    Antonyms: ,

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

    Our team played a dismal game.

    Synonyms: , ,

  3. Obsolete.
    1. disastrous; calamitous.
    2. unlucky; sinister.


noun

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

dismal

/ ˈɪə /

adjective

  1. causing gloom or depression
  2. causing dismay or terror
  3. of poor quality or a low standard; feeble
“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
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Derived Forms

  • ˈ徱Ա, noun
  • ˈ徱, adverb
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Other Word Forms

  • 徱m· adverb
  • 徱m·Ա 徱·i·ٲ noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of dismal1

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 徱ŧ malī, literally, “evil days”; diary ( def ), mal- ( def )
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Word History and Origins

Origin of dismal1

C13: from dismal (noun) list of 24 unlucky days in the year, from Medieval Latin 徱ŧ malī bad days, from Latin 徱ŧ day + malus bad
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The second is the performance of Hamilton, which could turn into a major distraction if the seven-time champion cannot improve after three dismal races in Japan, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

From

The 100 day polling continues to be dismal for President Donald Trump and his administration.

From

Foreign policy and national security are both bleak and dismal nightmares.

From

I take my hat off to Saints fans, because they have stuck with their team through such a dismal season - and maybe they will have something to celebrate when they play Leicester next week.

From

"As you are not prepared to do that, I am therefore left to conclude that this summit is designed to deflect attention from your party's dismal record."

From

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