dismal

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

• IPA^(key): [ˈdɪzməɫ]

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• Rhymes: -ɪsməl

dismal (comparative more dismal, superlative most dismal)

1. Disappointingly inadequate.

   He received a dismal compensation.

   • 2012 April 22, Sam Sheringham, “Liverpool 0-1 West Brom”, in BBC Sport:

     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, chapter 12, in Mr. Pratt's Patients:

     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.

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

• See also Thesaurus:cheerless

• dismal science

• almids