Antonyms for dismal
| Grammar : Adj |
| Spell : diz-muhl |
| Phonetic Transcription : ˈdɪz məl |
Definition of dismal
Origin :- c.1400, from Anglo-French dismal (mid-13c.), from Old French (li) dis mals "(the) bad days," from Medieval Latin dies mali "evil or unlucky days" (also called dies Ægyptiaci), from Latin dies "days" (see diurnal) + mali, plural of malus "bad" (see mal-).
- Through the Middle Ages, calendars marked two days of each month as unlucky, supposedly based on the ancient calculations of Egyptian astrologers (Jan. 1, 25; Feb. 4, 26; March 1, 28; April 10, 20; May 3, 25; June 10, 16; July 13, 22; Aug. 1, 30; Sept. 3, 21; Oct. 3, 22; Nov. 5, 28; Dec. 7, 22). Modern sense of "gloomy, dreary" first recorded in English 1590s, in reference to sounds. Related: Dismally.
- adj bleak, dreary, gloomy
- This illuminated the entire room, but in a partial and dismal manner.
- Extract from : « Way of the Lawless » by Max Brand
- Many a dismal and unhappy tale might be wrought out of its other adventures.
- Extract from : « Other Tales and Sketches » by Nathaniel Hawthorne
- She felt a dismal suspicion that this was going to daunt her.
- Extract from : « Quaint Courtships » by Various
- The dismal Hecate did not much like the idea of going abroad into the sunny world.
- Extract from : « Tanglewood Tales » by Nathaniel Hawthorne
- Farewell to the dismal, blood-red phantom of martial renown!
- Extract from : « The Works of Whittier, Volume VII (of VII) » by John Greenleaf Whittier
- Once more he heard the dismal cry, and fancied it held a mocking note.
- Extract from : « Good Indian » by B. M. Bower
- To the devil with this dismal darkness, wrapping itself about one with a chill!
- Extract from : « Little Dorrit » by Charles Dickens
- Uncle, after making one more pause, blew a dismal wail and went on again.
- Extract from : « Little Dorrit » by Charles Dickens
- These dismal shells, when they burst in the air, were like the fireworks at a fte.
- Extract from : « My Double Life » by Sarah Bernhardt
- He burst into a laugh, which, being prolonged, fell off into a dismal wail.
- Extract from : « Life And Adventures Of Martin Chuzzlewit » by Charles Dickens
Synonyms for dismal
- afflictive
- black
- boring
- cheerless
- cloudy
- dark
- depressed
- depressing
- desolate
- despondent
- dim
- dingy
- disagreeable
- discouraging
- disheartening
- dispiriting
- doleful
- dolorous
- dull
- forlorn
- frowning
- funereal
- ghastly
- gruesome
- hopeless
- horrible
- horrid
- in the pits
- inauspicious
- joyless
- lonesome
- lowering
- lugubrious
- melancholy
- miserable
- monotonous
- morbid
- murky
- oppressive
- overcast
- sad
- shadowy
- somber
- sorrowful
- tedious
- tenebrous
- troublesome
- unfortunate
- unhappy
Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019