abysmal

adjective

abys·​mal ə-ˈbiz-məl How to pronounce abysmal (audio)
a-
Synonyms of abysmal
1
a
: immeasurably low or wretched : extremely poor or bad
abysmal ignorance/poverty
abysmal living conditions
an abysmal performance
b
: having immense or fathomless extension downward, backward, or inward
an abysmal cliff
2
: abyssal sense 2
abysmally
ə-ˈbiz-mə-lē How to pronounce abysmal (audio)
a-
adverb
abysmally ignorant
an abysmally poor performance

Synonyms of abysmal

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Examples of abysmal in a Sentence

They were living in abysmal ignorance. a desperate cry echoing from the abysmal reaches of the cave
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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
These are producing smoke that’s creating abysmal air quality in the Pacific Northwest at large. — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026 With Skubal and so many other players injured, their May was abysmal, the type of nightmare month that can tank an entire season. — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026 Those are the abysmal odds the Florida ticket buyer had to overcome to win the Mega Millions jackpot on Tuesday night. — Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 The sight of hazy skies will be familiar to those who lived through recent summers when Canadian wildfire smoke poured into the United States, including in 2023 when air quality turned abysmal for millions of Americans. — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 16 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for abysmal

Word History

Etymology

abysm + -al entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of abysmal was circa 1656

Rhymes for abysmal

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Browse Nearby Words

abysm
abysmal
abysmally
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Cite this Entry

“Abysmal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abysmal. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

abysmal

adjective
abys·​mal ə-ˈbiz-məl How to pronounce abysmal (audio)
1
a
: extremely poor or bad
abysmal living conditions
b
: having an immense extension downward, backward, or inward
2
: abyssal
abysmally
-mə-lē How to pronounce abysmal (audio)
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on abysmal

Nglish: Translation of abysmal for Spanish Speakers

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