bleak

adjective

ˈblēk How to pronounce bleak (audio)
Definition of bleaknext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in turbulent
marked by wet and windy conditions it was a dark and bleak wintry day

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in chilly
uncomfortably cool a bleak December morning

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Example 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 Thursday’s outcome looked bleak after Ecuador failed to get a point against Curacao and lost to Ivory Coast to begin the tournament. — Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 25 June 2026 Cher’s court documents paint a bleak picture of how Allman, 49, allegedly blows through his $120,000 annual trust distributions. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 25 June 2026 All of this paints a very bleak picture of Hollywood’s possible future — one in which movies and series are produced with gen AI by studios that refuse to say anything truly insightful or negative about the technology or its creators. — Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge, 23 June 2026 Houssem Aouar finally spied a gap in the Austrian defence and sent Mahrez through to score, sparking jubilation before Sasa Kalajdzic’s header confirmed a ridiculous ending to a game that was dramatic, bleak and then dramatic again. — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for bleak
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bleak
  1. depressing
  2. turbulent
  3. chilly
  4. dark
  5. rainy
  6. chilling
  7. somber
  8. snowy
Adjective
  • What a depressing, disturbing waste, no matter the final verdict.
    — Bob Wojnowski, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 June 2026
  • After watching and enjoying the film, a somewhat depressing thought leaped into my mind.
    — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 8 June 2026
Definition of depressing
Adjective
  • Weaker global markets, which have impacted tech stock valuations, and the turbulent performance of SpaceX’s recent massive IPO were among the top concerns cited by insiders who have made the case that patience is a virtue.
    — John Kell, Fortune, 1 July 2026
  • His confirmation closes one of the most turbulent presidential searches in UF history.
    — Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026
Definition of turbulent
Adjective
  • Flemings, like Peterson a one-and-done player in college, had 14 points on chilly 4-of-16 shooting.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 5 July 2026
  • Then the movie ended, and someone flicked the lights, and people wiped their faces and checked their apps and the door opened for a chilly evening breeze.
    — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 4 July 2026
Definition of chilly
Adjective
  • As its name suggests, the product is formulated with skin care superstar retinol to smooth fine lines and crow’s feet and brighten dark circles.
    — Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 7 July 2026
  • El Floridita and Sloppy Joe’s, tourist destinations made famous by American novelist Ernest Hemingway, sat dark and shuttered.
    — Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 6 July 2026
Definition of dark
Adjective
  • Best Time to Visit Bellevue’s location in the heart of the Pacific Northwest means that its weather is generally temperate, with mild, rainy springs and warm, sunny summers.
    — Sara Harowitz, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026
  • Similar to how double-coated animals like wolves and bobcats shed water with their fur, the fringe, when attached to shoes, pants, and tunics, could help keep wearers dry during rainy treks.
    — Faran Krentcil, InStyle, 1 July 2026
Definition of rainy
Adjective
  • Made-from-scratch cheesecake doesn’t seem so hard when made as cupcakes where there’s no water bath, springform pan, and long chilling time required.
    — Brennan Long, Southern Living, 3 July 2026
  • Bell on Wednesday reaffirmed his support for Florida’s institutional neutrality policies, which discourages university leaders from taking official positions on political issues in an effort to avoid chilling debate among students and faculty.
    — Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026
Definition of chilling
Adjective
  • Instead, Alfonzo’s first appearance, the culmination of nine tireless years, was somber , stricken by the grief overshadowing what should’ve been a joyous moment in the Dodgers’ to the Padres.
    — Liana Handler Follow, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Flying straight from the merry Riverlands into the somber halls of Dragonstone is one hell of a comedown, but Daemon never struggles to access his dark side.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 29 June 2026
Definition of somber
Adjective
  • Chicago breaks snowfall records before December Chicago started the snowy season last year with a similarly strong punch, breaking snowfall records by the end of November, according to the NOAA.
    — Hannah Hudnall, USA Today, 26 June 2026
  • The second reenactment takes place on the actual anniversary of Washington’s crossing — a freezing, snowy, gloomy Christmas Day in 1776.
    — Joe Yogerst, CNN Money, 26 June 2026
Definition of snowy

Browse Nearby Words

bleaching
bleak
bleakly
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Cite this Entry

“Bleak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bleak. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on bleak

Nglish: Translation of bleak for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bleak

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