bleak

1 of 2

adjective

ˈblēk How to pronounce bleak (audio)
bleaker; bleakest
Synonyms of bleak
1
: exposed and barren and often windswept
a bleak landscape
bleak soils
2
: cold, raw
a bleak November evening
3
a
: lacking in warmth, life, or kindliness : grim
a bleak prison documentary
b
: not hopeful or encouraging : depressing
a bleak prognosis
a bleak outlook
the future looks bleak
c
: severely simple or austere
a bleak hotel room
bleakly adverb
bleakness noun

bleakness

2 of 2

noun

bleak·​ness
ˈblēk-nəs
plural -es
: the quality or state of being bleak

Synonyms of bleak

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Adjective

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Choose the Right Synonym for bleak

dismal, dreary, bleak, gloomy, cheerless, desolate mean devoid of cheer or comfort.

dismal indicates extreme and utterly depressing gloominess.

dismal weather

dreary, often interchangeable with dismal, emphasizes discouragement resulting from sustained dullness or futility.

a dreary job

bleak suggests chill, dull, and barren characteristics that utterly dishearten.

the bleak years of the depression

gloomy often suggests lack of hope or promise.

gloomy war news

cheerless stresses absence of anything cheering.

a drab and cheerless office

desolate adds an element of utter remoteness or lack of human contact to any already disheartening aspect.

a desolate outpost

Examples of bleak in a Sentence

Adjective a bleak outlook for the team for the rest of the season it was a dark and bleak wintry day
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.
Adjective
As the bleak second law of thermodynamics states, entropy always increases over time in a closed system. — Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026 But that’s a glimmer of progress in an overall bleak data set. — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2026 Unlike Gregor Samsa who is confined to his room after transforming into a huge insect, the protagonist still has to go to work, a dark and bleak absurdity that lays bare the alienation, isolation, and hypocrisy of modern life. — Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026 Providing a faint ray of hope in this otherwise bleak start to life, the five baby orangutans have been settling into their new surroundings in Odisha at the Nandankanan Zoo. — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bleak

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English bleke pale; probably akin to Old English blāc

First Known Use

Adjective

1574, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bleak was in 1574

Rhymes for bleak

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Browse Nearby Words

bleach-out process
bleak
bleakly
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Cite this Entry

“Bleak.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bleak. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

bleak

adjective
ˈblēk How to pronounce bleak (audio)
1
: open to wind or weather
a bleak coast
2
: cold entry 1 sense 1, raw
a bleak November evening
3
: dreary, cheerless
the future looks bleak
4
: very plain
bleakly adverb
bleakness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on bleak

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bleak

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