dismal

USAGE SUMMARY

'dismal' is a correct, usable word in written English.
You can use it to describe a place, situation, or feeling that is sad, depressing, or hopeless. For example: "After the factory closed down, the town was left with a dismal atmosphere and few job opportunities."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

(So-called femidoms, inserted by the woman, have been a dismal failure).

The Economist

He declared himself delighted with his preparations, and this performance was a vast improvement on his dismal defeat by Lleyton Hewitt at Queen's last week.

The Guardian - Sport

Fabio Capello believes the World Cup owes England a debt of gratitude for the gift of goalline technology and has said only Fifa had to change, not himself, after his team's dismal exit from the 2010 finals.

The Guardian - Sport

I mean properly foreign, unlike Martin O'Neill and Tony Pulis, for example, whose sides are allowed to serve comparatively dismal week in and week out without their managers ever being subjected to any kind of media scrutiny that invariably prompts fans to get their radge on.

The Guardian - Sport

There were dismal scenes at The Oval on Friday night as plastic glasses and bottles were thrown from the OCS Stand at stewards protecting the outfield at the end of the match.

The Guardian - Sport

Partly because Pardew's Newcastle were past masters at embarking on dismal runs themselves.

The Guardian - Sport

Piers Morgan has spent a bitter week hitting out at his former CNN colleague Anderson Cooper, blaming the dismal ratings for Piers Morgan Tonight on Cooper's poor lead-in.

The Guardian

The other highlight was the dismal performance of Nigel Farage.

The Guardian - Opinion

Fine Gael's chairman Charlie Flanagan said it was a "pretty dismal precedent" that a member of the Dail would admit to knowingly filing inaccurate returns, which Wallace in his defence insists was only done to save his company from insolvency and rescue the jobs of his workers.

The Guardian

That is pretty much in line with his party's dismal polling.

The Guardian

And just because it's "about nothing" doesn't mean it's worth nothing, like nearly every other equivalently-budgeted Hollywood product of this dismal year.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "dismal" to describe situations, conditions, or emotional states that are profoundly negative or discouraging. For example: "The economic outlook is dismal."

Common error

Avoid using "dismal" in situations where a milder term like "unpleasant" or "unfavorable" would be more appropriate. Overusing "dismal" can make your writing sound melodramatic.

Linguistic Context

The word "dismal" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe something as bleak, gloomy, or inadequate. Ludwig provides numerous examples of "dismal" used to describe various situations and performances.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "dismal" is a versatile adjective used to express negativity, inadequacy, or hopelessness. As Ludwig AI confirms, the term is grammatically correct and widely used, particularly in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. While its core meaning remains consistent, it's important to consider nuances conveyed by synonyms like "bleak", "gloomy", and "dreary" to ensure precise communication. Avoiding overuse in overly dramatic contexts will help maintain a balanced and credible tone. The frequent and authoritative sources highlight "dismal" as a valuable adjective for expressing unfavorable situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

bleak

Focuses on the barren or depressing nature of something.

gloomy

Emphasizes darkness or a lack of hope.

dreary

Highlights the dull and uninteresting aspects.

cheerless

Directly describes the absence of cheer or happiness.

depressing

Indicates something that causes sadness or low spirits.

pessimistic

Highlights a tendency to expect negative outcomes.

disheartening

Focuses on the loss of enthusiasm or morale.

inadequate

Highlights a lack of sufficient quality or quantity.

sorry

Expresses a feeling of regret or poor quality.

grim

Suggests a harsh or uninviting quality.

FAQs

How can I use "dismal" in a sentence?

You can use "dismal" to describe situations that are bleak, depressing, or inadequate. For example: "The team's performance this season has been truly dismal."

What can I say instead of "dismal"?

You can use alternatives like "bleak", "gloomy", or "dreary" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "dismal failure" or "dismal success"?

"Dismal" implies a negative outcome, so "dismal failure" is a fitting phrase. "Dismal success" would be contradictory; consider using "unexpected failure" or "unforeseen setback" instead.

What's the difference between "dismal" and "depressing"?

"Dismal" often refers to a situation or condition being bleak and hopeless, while "depressing" describes something that causes feelings of sadness or low spirits. A situation can be "dismal" without necessarily being "depressing", and vice versa.