dismal

dismal — adjective

1. If a place, situation, or period of time is dismal, it makes you feel very sad b

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

If a place, situation, or period of time is dismal, it makes you feel very sad because there seems to be little reason for hope or cheerfulness.

Example

Soraya stared out at the dismal grey sky and pulled her coat tighter.

collocation: dismal + weather noun (sky, day, weather)

The abandoned school looked dismal and forgotten behind the rusted gate.

Common collocations
  • dismal weather
  • dismal day
  • dismal conditions
  • dismal outlook
  • dismal mood
  • dismal failure
Synonyms
  • gloomy

    very similar but slightly less intense; more about darkness than hopelessness

  • bleak

    focuses more on an unpromising future or harsh conditions than on current feelings

  • dreary

    emphasises boredom, dullness, and monotony rather than deep sadness

  • somber

    suggests a serious, solemn mood rather than hopelessness; often used for tone of voice or atmosphere

Antonyms
  • cheerful

    the opposite of a gloomy, hopeless atmosphere

  • bright

    suggests hope, light, and positivity in both weather and mood

Grammar Patterns

dismal + noun

be/look/feel + dismal

Usage Note

Frequently describes weather, places, or emotional states. This sense is stronger than 'sad' — it suggests a deep, oppressive gloom with little sense of hope. Also common in fixed phrases like 'a dismal failure' (though that leans toward sense 2).

Common Mistakes

I felt dismal when I lost my keys.
I felt annoyed when I lost my keys.
'dismal' describes a deep, lasting gloom, not a minor everyday frustration.

2. Extremely poor in quality, standard, or result; falling far below what is accept

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

Extremely poor in quality, standard, or result; falling far below what is acceptable or expected.

Example

The team gave a dismal performance, losing by more than forty points.

collocation: dismal + performance noun

Théo's exam results were so dismal that his tutor suggested extra lessons.

Common collocations
  • dismal performance
  • dismal failure
  • dismal result
  • dismal record
  • dismal review
  • dismal score
  • dismal sales
Synonyms
  • terrible

    more common and less formal; covers a wider range of negative situations

  • awful

    very common in everyday speech; similar strength but less literary

  • pathetic

    stronger and more judgmental; suggests contempt for poor effort

  • lamentable

    more formal and old-fashioned; suggests something regrettable

Antonyms
  • excellent

    the direct opposite in terms of quality and standard

  • outstanding

    far above average, the positive extreme

Grammar Patterns

dismal + noun

be + dismal

Usage Note

Commonly describes performance, results, quality, or scores. This sense is informal in some contexts but acceptable in most writing. It is stronger and slightly more dramatic than 'very bad' or 'terrible'.

Common Mistakes

The food at the restaurant was dismal.
The food at the restaurant was terrible.
'dismal' is unusual for describing food; use 'terrible' or 'awful' instead.
I had a dismal headache.
I had a terrible headache.
'dismal' is not used for physical sensations or pain.

Word family

  • dismally
    adverbC1
  • dismalness
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Dismal suggests a deep, hopeless sadness that is often tied to weather, places, or conditions — it carries a stronger sense of despair than its near-synonyms. Gloomy focuses on darkness and a lack of light or cheer, without necessarily implying hopelessness. Bleak points toward a harsh, unpromising future or a barren landscape. Dreary emphasises boredom and monotonous dullness more than sadness. Somber describes a serious, solemn mood — the tone of a funeral, not the feeling of being trapped in hopeless circumstances. For example, a 'dismal day' feels hopelessly grey, whereas a 'gloomy day' is simply dark; a 'bleak forecast' predicts no improvement, but a 'dreary lecture' is merely tediously dull.

gloomy ↗bleak ↗drearysomber

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • utterly dismal
  • equally dismal
  • rather dismal
  • somewhat dismal

Phrases

  • in dismal conditions
  • a dismal state of affairs

Etymology

LatinAnglo-FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Comes from the Latin phrase dies mali ('evil days'), which referred to two unlucky days in the medieval calendar. Over time, 'dismal' widened from describing specific unlucky days to describing anything causing gloom, sadness, or disappointment.