BLEAK Synonyms: 191 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'bleak' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of bleak are cheerless , desolate , dismal , dreary , and gloomy . While all these words mean "devoid of cheer or comfort," bleak suggests chill, dull, and barren characteristics that utterly dishearten. // the bleak years of the depression

Q: When is 'cheerless' a more appropriate choice than 'bleak'?

The words cheerless and bleak can be used in similar contexts, but cheerless stresses absence of anything cheering. // a drab and cheerless office

Q: In what contexts can 'desolate' take the place of 'bleak'?

The meanings of desolate and bleak largely overlap; however, desolate adds an element of utter remoteness or lack of human contact to any already disheartening aspect. // a desolate outpost

Q: When might 'dismal' be a better fit than 'bleak'?

The synonyms dismal and bleak are sometimes interchangeable, but dismal indicates extreme and utterly depressing gloominess. // dismal weather

Q: Where would 'dreary' be a reasonable alternative to 'bleak'?

While the synonyms dreary and bleak are close in meaning, dreary , often interchangeable with dismal , emphasizes discouragement resulting from sustained dullness or futility. // a dreary job

Q: When would 'gloomy' be a good substitute for 'bleak'?

The words gloomy and bleak are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, gloomy often suggests lack of hope or promise. // gloomy war news

bleak

adjective

ˈblēk

Definition of bleak next

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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as in turbulent

marked by wet and windy conditions it was a dark and bleak wintry day

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as in chilly

uncomfortably cool a bleak December morning

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective bleak contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of bleak are cheerless, desolate, dismal, dreary, and gloomy. While all these words mean "devoid of cheer or comfort," bleak suggests chill, dull, and barren characteristics that utterly dishearten.

the bleak years of the depression

When is cheerless a more appropriate choice than bleak?

The words cheerless and bleak can be used in similar contexts, but cheerless stresses absence of anything cheering.

a drab and cheerless office

In what contexts can desolate take the place of bleak?

The meanings of desolate and bleak largely overlap; however, desolate adds an element of utter remoteness or lack of human contact to any already disheartening aspect.

a desolate outpost

When might dismal be a better fit than bleak?

The synonyms dismal and bleak are sometimes interchangeable, but dismal indicates extreme and utterly depressing gloominess.

dismal weather

Where would dreary be a reasonable alternative to bleak?

While the synonyms dreary and bleak are close in meaning, dreary, often interchangeable with dismal, emphasizes discouragement resulting from sustained dullness or futility.

a dreary job

When would gloomy be a good substitute for bleak?

The words gloomy and bleak are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, gloomy often suggests lack of hope or promise.

gloomy war news

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of bleak Flash forward 92-plus years to Donald Trump’s rally Sunday at New York’s Madison Square Garden, a bleak, lurid festival of racist hate and profane vituperation so vile that even fellow Republicans, who have turned a blind eye to Trump’s character for years, are distancing themselves from the event. —

Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2024 But its authors say the bleak findings should be cause for action, not despair. —

Axios Portland, Axios, 11 Oct. 2024 Many families took their losses and abandoned their lands to seize opportunities for financial success in major Italian cities when the future for those in the country looked bleak. —

Cathrine Todd, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024 The result is an unbowed President Putin, an acute foreign policy failure for President Biden, a geopolitical power shift in favor of the U.S.’s adversaries, and a bleak outlook for Ukraine. —

Suriya Jayanti, TIME, 20 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for bleak

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bleak

Adjective

Loading your audio article The national election news was downright depressing for many in the Bay Area, but there was a lot of cause for celebration among local candidates Tuesday night.

Sal Pizarro, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
Dreadful game of the week: Cleveland Browns at Philadelphia Eagles — The Browns are just depressing, saddled with the debacle that is the acquisition of quarterback Deshaun Watson, whose numbers are just dreadful.

Jim Reineking, USA TODAY, 11 Oct. 2024