abysmal

adjective

abys·​mal ə-ˈbiz-məl How to pronounce abysmal (audio)
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
abysmally adverb
abysmally ignorant
an abysmally poor performance

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
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.
With the Rockies' abysmal start to the season, the Yankees may be the ideal landing spot for McMahon, filling the holes the team needs while landing on the reigning American League Champions. Hunter Mulholland, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025 Then, skylines in several major cities were blanketed by an orange haze and air quality was abysmal for millions of Americans. Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 3 June 2025 Stella’s Body Condition Score — a tool used to determine if a dog is underweight — was an abysmal 1 out of 9, the vet staff determined. Bailey Richards, People.com, 2 June 2025 Yes, there will be better days ahead for Matt Chapman (who had a great game Wednesday after shortening his swing) and perhaps even Willy Adames (who is now hitting .208 with an abysmal .621 OPS). Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 28 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for abysmal

Word History

Etymology

abysm + -al entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of abysmal was circa 1656

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Cite this Entry

“Abysmal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abysmal. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

abysmal

adjective
abys·​mal ə-ˈbiz-məl How to pronounce abysmal (audio)
1
a
: extremely poor or bad
abysmal living conditions
b
: having an immense extension downward, backward, or inward
2
abysmally adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on abysmal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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