# dismal

/ˈdɪzməɫ/ (US) · /dˈɪzməl/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dismal
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

very bad, sad, or without hope. You use it to describe things like terrible weather, a poor performance, or a gloomy mood.

For teachers: characterised by gloom, misery, or a lack of hope; showing or causing a lack of cheerfulness. Often used to describe poor quality or disappointing results in a professional or academic context.

## Examples

- The team's performance was dismal.
- The weather remained dismal for the entire week, with grey clouds and constant rain ruining our holiday plans.
- Despite the high expectations surrounding the product launch, the initial sales figures were dismal, forcing the board to reconsider their entire marketing strategy for the next quarter.

## Usage notes

- Often used to modify nouns like 'failure', 'weather', 'performance', or 'prospects'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.