abysmal

adjective

abys·​mal ə-ˈbiz-məl 

a-

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 

a-

adverb

abysmally ignorant

an abysmally poor performance

Synonyms

• bottomless
• deep
• profound

Examples of abysmal in a Sentence

They were living in abysmal ignorance.

a desperate cry echoing from the abysmal reaches of the cave

Recent Examples on the Web

But, in reality, braceros often spent as much as 14 hours a day stooping to pick crops and lived in abysmal conditions. —Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 30 Nov. 2024

Carlos Miguel was abysmal in New York’s opening playoff match, conceding all goals in a 3-2 loss to Columbus. —Kyle Foley, Orlando Sentinel, 29 Nov. 2024

Bedard has been abysmal at the dot at a team-worst 29.3% (minimum 10 draws). —Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 19 Nov. 2024

The 1899 Cleveland Spiders hold the all-time record for losses when the then National League team finished with an abysmal 20-134 record. —Jamie Barton, CNN, 27 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

abysm + -al entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Kids Definition

abysmal

adjective

abys·​mal ə-ˈbiz-məl 

1

a

: extremely poor or bad

abysmal living conditions

b

: having an immense extension downward, backward, or inward

2

: abyssal

abysmally

-mə-lē 

adverb