DISMAL


Meaning of DISMAL in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ ˈdiz-məl ]

adjective

Etymology: Middle English, from dismal, noun, days marked as unlucky in medieval calendars, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin dies mali, literally, evil days

Date: 15th century

1. obsolete : disastrous , dreadful

2. : showing or causing gloom or depression

3. : lacking merit : particularly bad

a dismal performance

• dis·mal·ly -mə-lē adverb

• dis·mal·ness noun

Synonyms:

dismal , dreary , bleak , gloomy , cheerless , desolate mean devoid of cheer or comfort. dismal indicates extreme and utterly depressing gloominess

dismal weather

dreary , often interchangeable with dismal, emphasizes discouragement resulting from sustained dullness or futility

a dreary job

bleak suggests chill, dull, and barren characteristics that utterly dishearten

the bleak years of the depression

gloomy often suggests lack of hope or promise

gloomy war news

cheerless stresses absence of anything cheering

a drab and cheerless office

desolate adds an element of utter remoteness or lack of human contact to any already disheartening aspect

a desolate outpost

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.