Synonyms of dismal

120 similar words

Another word for dismal is inadequate. Other synonyms of dismal are lean, poor, miserable, unhappy and unsatisfactory.

Synonyms and similar words for dismal

adjectiveDisastrous, calamitous.

cataclysmicOf or pertaining to a cataclysm; causing great destruction or upheaval; catastrophic.
catastrophic
ruinous

adjectiveDisappointingly inadequate.

meager
paltry
awantingMissing; wanting; deficient or absent.
deficient
exiguousScanty; meager.
geason UK, dialectal
inadequateNot adequate; lacking in quality or quantity required; insufficient for a purpose.
insufficient
leanHaving little extra or little to spare; scanty; meagre.
lousyInsufficient and less than expected of a good thing.
measly
poorInadequate, insufficient.
raunchy
scant
scantlingNot plentiful; small; scanty.
scanty
scarce
skimpy
sleazy
slender figuratively
spare
sparse
threadbare figurativelyIn poor condition; damaged, shabby; also, poorly equipped or provided for, inadequate, meagre, scanty.
unsatisfactoryInadequate, substandard or not satisfactory.
unsufficientSynonym of insufficient.
wanting
wanty UK, dialectalPossessing or indicating lack; deficient.
lank obsolete

adjectiveCausing despair; gloomy and bleak.

desolateDismal or dreary.
drearyDrab; dark, colorless, or cheerless.
cheerlessDevoid of cheer; gloomy.
comfortlessOf a thing: offering no comfort; uncomforting.
bleakUnhappy; cheerless; miserable; emotionally desolate.
darkConducive to hopelessness; depressing or bleak.
moroseSullen, gloomy; showing a brooding ill humour.
depressingCausing depression or sadness.
direExpressing bad consequences: dreadful; dismal.
disconsolateCheerless, dreary.
dolefulFilled with grief, mournful, bringing feelings of sadness.
dolesomeCharacterised or marked by sorrow and grief; doleful; dismal; gloomy.
drearDreary.
drearisomeCharacterised or marked by dreariness.
dreich UK, dialectalBleak, cheerless, dismal, dreary, miserable.
forlornPitifully sad, wretched, miserable; lonely, especially from feeling abandoned, deserted, forsaken.
gaylessLacking gaiety; gloomy; somber; drab.
grayDreary, gloomy, cloudy.
gloomsomeCharacterised or marked by gloom.
gloomySuffering from gloom; melancholy; dejected.
grimDismal and gloomy, cold and forbidding.
joylessWithout joy; unhappy, sad.
lack-laughterCheerless; sombre; serious.
lugubriousGloomy, mournful or dismal, especially to an exaggerated degree.
melancholyAffected with great sadness or depression.
mirthlessLacking mirth; devoid of joy; sad.
miserableIn a state of misery: very sad, ill, or poor.
no joke
saturnineOf a person: having a tendency to be cold and gloomy.
somber
sombreDark; gloomy; shadowy, dimly lit.
spiritlessLacking energy, drive, motivation or emotion. Enervated.
sullenGloomy; dismal; foreboding.
sunlessDreary, cheerless.
uncheerfulNot cheerful.
uncheeryNot cheery; gloomy, pessimistic.
unhappyNot happy; sad.
unmerryNot merry, the opposite of merry; sad, gloomy.
wintryChilling, cheerless.
woefulFull of woe; sorrowful; distressed with grief or calamity.
solemn obsoleteCheerless, gloomy, sombre.

adjectiveDepressing, dreary, cheerless.

sorrowfulExhibiting sorrow; dejected; distraught; sad. (of a person).
mournfulFilled with grief or sadness; being in a state in which one mourns.
atrabiliary
atrabilious
blithelessWithout happiness or joy; unjoyful; sorrowful; sad.
dispiritedWithout energy, gusto or drive, enervated, without the will to accomplish, disheartened.
blueDepressed, melancholic, sad.
bummed outDepressed, disappointed, in a gloomy mood.
chapfallenCrestfallen, dejected.
chopfallenSynonym of chapfallen.
crestfallen
cut up Australia, UKEmotionally upset; mentally distressed.
damp figuratively
dejectedSad and dispirited.
depressedUnhappy; despondent.
despondentIn low spirits from loss of hope or courage.
disgruntledIn a dissatisfied, frustrated, or upset mood; in a bad temper or ill humour.
disheartenedDiscouraged, despairing.
downSad, unhappy, depressed, feeling low.
down in the dumpsSad; lacking engagement or enthusiasm.
down in the mouthSad or discouraged, especially as indicated by one's facial appearance.
downcastOf a person: feeling despondent or discouraged.
downheartedSad, discouraged, in low spirits, unhappy, having no hope.
downsomeLow-spirited; melancholy.
dullBored, depressed, down.
elegiacExpressing sorrow or mourning.
elegiousMelancholy, miserable, plaintive.
glumDespondent; moody; sullen.
grief-strickenVery sad.
grievingFeeling or showing sorrow or distress due to loss, especially the death of someone.
heavy-heartedSad, melancholic.
heartsoreHeartsick.
heartsickVery despondent or sorrowful; heartsore.
inconsolableNot consolable; unable to be consoled or comforted, usually due to grief, disappointment, or other distress.
infelicitous
jawfallenDejected, dispirited.
lachrymoseTearful, sorrowful, sad, pertaining to tears, weeping, causing tears or crying.
lowDepressed in mood, dejected, sad.
low-spiritedDisheartened, feeling low, in low spirits.
melancholicFilled with or affected by melancholy—great sadness or depression, especially of a thoughtful or introspective nature.
moodySulky or depressed.
mopeyGiven to moping; in a depressed condition, low in spirits; lackadaisical.
plaintiveSounding sorrowful, mournful or melancholic.
PlutonianOf, relating to, or having characteristics associated with the underworld; dark, gloomy; mournful.
PlutonicSynonym of Plutonian (“of, relating to, or having characteristics associated with the underworld; dark, gloomy...
querulousOften complaining; suggesting a complaint in expression; fretful, whining.
ruthfulFull of sorrow; sorrowful; woeful; rueful.
sad

Meaning of dismal

adjective Disastrous, calamitous.
adjective Disappointingly inadequate.
adjective Causing despair; gloomy and bleak.

Full definition of dismal

dismal in other languages

Questions about synonyms of dismal

What is another word for dismal?: Dismal has 120 synonyms on Word.ws, such as inadequate, lean, poor, miserable, unhappy, unsatisfactory, depressing and grim.
What does dismal mean?: Dismal means disastrous, calamitous.

Adapted from Wiktionary: dismal (page history and authors) and the entries of the words listed. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws grouped the synonyms and antonyms by meaning and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

Last updated: 2026-09-02

Cite this page: “Synonyms of dismal.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/synonyms/dismal. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.