Abysmal – Definition, Meaning and Synonyms

Definition of Abysmal (adjective)

Abysmal is an adjective to describe something extremely bad, dreadful, or hopeless. It often conveys a sense of something being profoundly negative or of very poor quality.

Examples

• The service at the restaurant was abysmal.
• Her abysmal performance in the game disappointed everyone.
• The weather was abysmal during our entire vacation.
• His abysmal attitude towards work upset the whole team.
• The conditions in the factory were abysmal and unsafe.
• The exam results were abysmal.
• The movie was abysmal.
• Their abysmal treatment of animals sparked public outrage.

Meaning

• very bad.
• dreadful.

Pronunciation

• UK: /əˈbɪzməl/ (uh-BIZ-muhl)
• US: /æˈbɪzməl/ (uh-BIZ-muhl)

Synonyms

• Horrible
• Terrible
• Atrocious
• Dreadful
• Appalling
• Wretched
• Ghastly
• Dire
• Deplorable
• Shocking
• Pitiful
• Lamentable
• Excruciating
• Disastrous
• Poor

Usage Tips for Abysmal

• It is used for extremely poor or dreadful situations.
• You can use it for strongly negative, serious, or humorous exaggeration.
• Avoid trivial problems.
• Abysmal is often used with conditions, performance, failure, etc.

Origin

Abysmal (1600-1700):

• It is derived from the abysm, which means abyss.
• Originates from Old French abisme
• From Late Latin abyssus, which means bottomless or unfathomable.

Similar Words to Abysmal

• Atrocious
• Dreadful
• Appalling
• Horrendous
• Terrible
• Dire
• Abominable
• Ghastly
• Wretched
• Deplorable

FAQs

Q: What is the meaning of abysmal in Urdu?

Ans: In Urdu, abysmal means انتہائی برا or ناقابل برداشت.

Q: How do we use abysmal in a sentence?

Ans: The team’s performance was abysmal leaving the fans disappointed and frustrated with the result.

Q: What’s the difference between abysmal and dismal?

Ans: Abysmal implies something deeply negative while dismal refers to gloomy or depressing situations.

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