dismal
gb/dˈɪzməl/ us/dˈɪzməl/
B2
English
~ 5600
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
extremely bad or unsuccessful
Very bad or very unsuccessful, especially about results or performance.
Usage pattern:
a dismal [result/performance/situation]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "dismal" to describe a person directly, as in *"He is dismal"*. In modern English, this sounds odd; it is more natural to describe a result or situation ("a dismal result", "a dismal performance") or the person's mood ("He is in a dismal mood"). Learners may also confuse the spelling with "dim" or write *"dizmal"*.
Synonyms
terrible (A very common, general word; slightly less strong or dramatic than "dismal" in some contexts.)
|
abysmal (Often stronger and more emotional than "dismal", suggesting shockingly bad quality.)
|
poor (More neutral and less dramatic; often used in more formal or measured evaluations.)
Antonyms
excellent (Direct opposite in terms of quality or success.)
|
impressive (Opposite in that the performance or result strongly pleases rather than disappoints.)
Collocations
a dismal failure
|dismal performance
|dismal record
|dismal results
|dismal showing
|dismal test scores
Themes
evaluation
|work
|education
|sports
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The company reported dismal sales figures for the second quarter.
- Our team gave a dismal performance in the final, losing by thirty points.
- The movie was a dismal failure at the box office.
- After three dismal seasons, the coach finally resigned.
Learner examples
- The students got dismal test scores this year.
- Our team had a dismal record and did not reach the playoffs.
- The restaurant closed after a dismal first year in business.
- His first attempt at cooking was dismal, but he is getting better.
adjective
B2
property
2
gloomy and depressing in feeling
Making people feel very sad or without hope, often because it is dark, cold, or cheerless.
Usage pattern:
a dismal [place/day/mood]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "dismal" where "dark" or "sad" would be clearer, for example *"I feel dismal"* in very informal speech. It is usually better to say "I feel very sad" or "I am in a dismal mood". Also, "dismal" is stronger and more emotional than "bad" or "unhappy".
Synonyms
gloomy (Very close in meaning; can describe both low light and a sad feeling.)
|
dreary (Suggests something boringly sad and dull over time, not just briefly depressing.)
|
bleak (Emphasizes emptiness and lack of hope more strongly than "dismal" in many contexts.)
Antonyms
cheerful (Describes a bright, happy mood or atmosphere, opposite to "dismal".)
|
bright (Can refer both to good light and to a happy, hopeful feeling, the reverse of "dismal" gloom.)
Collocations
dismal weather
|dismal mood
|dismal room
|dismal surroundings
|dismal day
|dismal little town
Themes
emotions
|weather
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- We spent a dismal afternoon in the cold, grey rain.
- The hospital waiting room was a dismal place, with harsh lights and plastic chairs.
- After the news, everyone fell into a dismal mood.
- The empty, boarded-up shops gave the town a dismal feel.
Learner examples
- It was a cold, dismal day with no sun.
- She sat alone in her dismal little room.
- The bad news left him in a dismal mood.
- The hallway looks dismal with no pictures and no light.
Noun
archaic
C2
state
3
a spell of deep gloom
An old word for a time when someone feels very sad and without hope. Today it appears mainly in older books.
Synonyms
melancholy (A literary word for deep, lasting sadness; still used more often than the noun "dismal".)
Antonyms
cheerfulness (A positive, happy state of mind, opposed to a state of gloom.)
Collocations
the dismal
|the dismals
|a fit of the dismals
Themes
emotions
|literature
|history
Examples
- After weeks of rain, he confessed that he had a touch of the dismals.
- The old letters speak of 'the dismals' that sometimes seized the sailors during long voyages.
- A fit of the dismals came over her as she walked through the silent house.
Learner examples
- In this old story, the writer talks about "the dismals" after many hard days at sea.
- You may see the word "dismals" in classic books, but people do not use it in modern speech.
- The character says he has "the dismals", which means he feels very sad.
Grammar
Dictionary form
dismal
IPA
GB/dˈɪzməl/
US/dˈɪzməl/
Syllables & stress
dis - mal (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (dis)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: dismal
Word family
Core family
dismally
adverb B2
Advanced or less common
dismalness
noun
Expressions
a dismal failure
1/ə dˈɪzməl fˈeɪljɚ/
fixed phrase
a completely unsuccessful result
Used to say that something failed in a very serious and clear way.
Examples
- The new app was a dismal failure and was removed after two weeks.
- His attempt to start his own business was a dismal failure.
- The plan proved to be a dismal failure, wasting time and money.
dismal mood
1/dˈɪzməl mˈud/
fixed phrase
very sad and low spirits
A very sad, low, or hopeless feeling.
Examples
- She was in a dismal mood after hearing the news.
- Rainy days always put him in a dismal mood.
- The whole team was in a dismal mood after the loss.
dismal performance
1/dˈɪzməl pɚfˈɔɹməns/
fixed phrase
very poor performance
A performance that is very bad and disappointing.
Examples
- The team was booed after their dismal performance on the field.
- Critics wrote about the actor's dismal performance in the play.
- Their dismal performance in the exam surprised the teacher.
dismal prospects
1/dˈɪzməl pɹˈɔspɛkts/
fixed phrase
very poor future chances
Very little hope that things will go well in the future.
Examples
- Graduates in that field face dismal prospects at the moment.
- The report suggests dismal prospects for the local economy.
- Without investment, the club has dismal prospects of winning any titles.
dismal weather
1/dˈɪzməl wˈɛðɚ/
fixed phrase
dark, wet, and depressing weather
Weather that is dark, cold, rainy, or otherwise makes people feel sad or low.
Examples
- We stayed indoors all weekend because of the dismal weather.
- The town looked especially empty in the dismal weather.
- After weeks of dismal weather, everyone was desperate for some sun.
the dismal science
1/ðə dˈɪzməl sˈaɪəns/
fixed phrase
humorous name for economics
A half-joking name for economics, suggesting that it often gives gloomy or negative predictions.
Examples
- Some students avoid the dismal science because they find economics too abstract.
- An article in the paper joked that the dismal science had failed to predict the crisis.
- He made his career in the dismal science, teaching economics at the university.