Dismal

Pronunciation

• IPA: ˈdɪzməɫ

Origin

From Anglo-Norman dismal, from Old French (li) dis mals ("(the) bad days"), from Medieval Latin diēs ("day") mālī ("bad").

Full definition of dismal

Adjective

1. Disappointingly inadequate.
   He received a dismal compensation.
• 2012, April 22, Sam Sheringham, Liverpool 0-1 West Brom, Liverpool's efforts thereafter had an air of desperation as their dismal 2012 league form continued.
2. Gloomy and bleak.
   The storm made for a dismal weekend
3. Depressing.
   She was lost in dismal thoughts of despair
• 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, Mr. Pratt's Patients Chapter 12, So, after a spell, he decided to make the best of it and shoved us into the front parlor. 'Twas a dismal sort of place, with hair wreaths, and wax fruit, and tin lambrekins, and land knows what all. It looked like a tomb and smelt pretty nigh as musty and dead-and-gone.

Usage notes

Nouns to which "dismal" is often applied: failure, performance, state, record, place, result, scene, season, year, economy, future, fate, weather, news, condition, history.

Synonyms

Derived terms

• dismal science