dismal

English

Etymology

From Latin diēs (“day”) and malus (“bad”) ("bad day").

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈdɪzm(ə)l/

Adjective

dismal (comparative more dismal, superlative most dismal)

1. Disappointingly inadequate.

   He received a dismal compensation

2. Gloomy and bleak.

   The storm made for a dismal weekend

3. Depressing.

   She was lost in dismal thoughts of despair

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

• See also Wikisaurus:cheerless

Derived terms

• dismal science

Translations

disappointingly inadequate

Hungarian: elszomorító (hu), sikertelen (hu) Portuguese: inadequado (pt) m.

Romanian: dezamagitor de inadecvat (ro)

gloomy and bleak

Bulgarian: мрачен (bg), неприветлив (bg) Finnish: synkkä (fi), surullinen (fi) French: morne (fr) m. and f., lugubre (fr) m. and f.

Hungarian: szomorú (hu), sötét (hu), bús (hu) Norwegian: stusslig (no) Portuguese: sombrio (pt)

depressing

Bulgarian: тъжен (bg), унил (bg) Finnish: surullinen (fi) French: déprimant (fr) Hebrew: מדכא (he) (Medakke) m.

Hungarian: szomorú (hu), lehangoló (hu), gyászos (hu), komor (hu), vigasztalan (hu) Romanian: deprimant (ro) Scottish Gaelic: brònach (gd)