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

Cam Johnson finished with 13 points and did it on an abysmal 3-for-20 clip. —C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 2 Mar. 2025

After the abysmal start at Goodison Park, Amorim will have been desperate for a measured opening to this match. —Laurie Whitwell, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025

That's despite asset prices collapsing after an abysmal 2022, culminating in the exchange FTX going belly-up. —Brady Dale, Axios, 25 Feb. 2025

But at least in the corporate world, chainsaw-wielding executives have an abysmal record of effectively cutting costs, Forbes executive editor Matt Schifrin writes. —Danielle Chemtob, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

abysm + -al entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Rhymes for abysmal

• baptismal
• aneurysmal
• paroxysmal
• dismal

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