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

Unfortunately, the fan performance is abysmal, with wind speed struggling to top 450 ft/m. —Kat Merck, WIRED, 5 Feb. 2025

Minnesota was just 13-9 over its final 22 regular season home bouts last year, abysmal for a team that won 56 games. —Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 4 Feb. 2025

The results in math were not so abysmal, but students have still lost substantial ground from before the pandemic. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 1 Feb. 2025

The San Diego Padres' offseason has been absolutely abysmal. —Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025

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