1
as in depressing
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer
a bleak outlook for the team for the rest of the season
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2
as in turbulent
marked by wet and windy conditions
it was a dark and bleak wintry day
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3
as in chilly
uncomfortably cool
a bleak December morning
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of bleak
Armed with these bleak options, Frosch returned to Washington.
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Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 30 Dec. 2024
The Colorado Avalanche turned a bleak decade from 2008 to ’18 into something special and are now trying to balance salary cap issues with competitiveness.
—The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
But even within this bleak reality, there are pockets of resilience.
—Umair Irfan, Vox, 28 Dec. 2024
Those bleak years devastated the American rail industry, as revenue fell by 50 percent from 1928 to 1933, and a third of the country’s railroads went into bankruptcy.
—Patrick Sauer, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bleak 
Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 30 Dec. 2024
The Colorado Avalanche turned a bleak decade from 2008 to ’18 into something special and are now trying to balance salary cap issues with competitiveness.
—The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
But even within this bleak reality, there are pockets of resilience.
—Umair Irfan, Vox, 28 Dec. 2024
Those bleak years devastated the American rail industry, as revenue fell by 50 percent from 1928 to 1933, and a third of the country’s railroads went into bankruptcy.
—Patrick Sauer, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bleak
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bleak
Adjective
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The depressing part is that the smear campaign worked.Nicole Page, IndieWire, 6 Jan. 2025
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In October, Lilium was scrambling for additional investments to keep the doors open and by late December the company announced that the only people still on the payroll would be handling the depressing job of liquidation.David Szondy, New Atlas, 5 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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But wearied by a turbulent couple of years that saw points deductions, relegation battles and near-constant speculation over the future of the club, the 53-year-old made clear his view that his methods were no longer having the same impact.Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
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Aikman too had some turbulent times early in his career with the Dallas Cowboys.Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Temperatures — already a chilly 25 degrees as the evening viewing began — ticked down a degree, then two.Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2025
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But a few of the zoo’s residents have welcomed the chilly conditions.Natalie Wallington, Kansas City Star, 8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The somber music should have been my first clue, but I was too wrapped up in the euphoria of Jane soon realizing that someone valued her life enough to save her from certain death.Lincee Ray, EW.com, 18 Jan. 2025
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When a photographer suggests that the family pose with a somber demeanor for a shot that will be featured in an article about Rubens’ disappearance, Eunice refuses, instructing her children to smile broadly.Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Such a boom and bust cycle means a lot of lush greenery that grows in the rainy times, and a lot of dead leaves, trees and other tinder that gets left behind when things dry.Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 10 Jan. 2025
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While Northern California and the Bay Area has seen a relatively rainy winter season, downtown Los Angeles saw just 3% of its normal rainfall since Oct. 1.Grant Stringer, The Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Most of his victims were reportedly friends and family, adding a chilling layer to the tragedy.Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 6 Jan. 2025
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Tim Lammers However, if film purists insist that Misery—despite the horror pedigree of the author who wrote the source material—is not a horror film, there is a chilling classic from the early 1970s that experienced Golden Globes glory that undeniably is.Tim Lammers, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The photos illuminate a dark planet scientists are eager to learn more about.Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
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The resultant movie — a dark, gooey masterpiece — would forever alter Carpenter’s fortunes in Hollywood.Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Connecticut may see a snowy dusting Saturday morning, according to the National Weather Service.Staff report, Hartford Courant, 10 Jan. 2025
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Of those, the following 13 are expecting either freezing weather or snowy conditions this weekend.Anna Skinner, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Bleak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bleak. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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