dismally

Thân thiện

He gazed dismally at the rain-soaked picnic.

Definition

1. Adverb:
   • In a dreadful, terrible, or very bad manner: Indicates that something is done or occurs in a way that is extremely poor, unsuccessful, or depressing.
   • In a cheerless, gloomy, or bleak manner: Describes an action or state characterized by a complete lack of cheer, hope, or brightness.

Usage Examples

• Adverb:
  • The team performed dismally, losing all their matches. (This shows the action was done in a very poor or unsuccessful manner.)
  • He failed dismally in his attempt to fix the engine. (This emphasizes the complete and terrible nature of the failure.)
  • The sky looked dismally gray all day. (This describes a state or appearance that is cheerless and gloomy.)

Advanced Usage

• Used to emphasize complete failure or poor quality: Often intensifies verbs related to failure, performance, or appearance.
  • The new policy has dismally failed to address the core issues.
• Used in formal or literary contexts to describe atmosphere or mood:
  • The conversation proceeded dismally, with long periods of silence.

Variants and Related Words

• Dismal (adjective): Causing or showing gloom; depressing.
  • The dismal weather matched his mood.
• Dismalness (noun): The quality of being dismal. (This is a less common noun form.)

Synonyms

• Abysmally: In an extremely bad way.
• Deplorably: In a wretched or shameful manner.
• Pathetically: In a manner arousing pity, especially through inadequacy.
• Gloomily: In a dark or pessimistic manner.
• Cheerlessly: In a gloomy or joyless manner.

Antonyms

• Brilliantly: In an exceptionally clever or successful manner.
• Superbly: In an excellent or splendid manner.
• Cheerfully: In a happy and optimistic way.
• Successfully: In a way that accomplishes a desired aim or result.

Related Phrases and Collocations

• To fail dismally: A common collocation emphasizing a total and utter failure.
  • The product launch failed dismally due to poor planning.
• Dismally low: Used to describe something (like a score, level, or amount) that is shockingly or depressingly small.
  • Public trust in the institution has reached a dismally low point.

Học thuật

Adverb

1. in a dreadful manner
   • as he looks at the mess he has left behind he must wonder how the Brits so often managed to succeed in the kind of situation where he has so dismally failed
2. in a cheerless manner
   • in August 1914 , there was a dismally sentimental little dinner, when the French, German, Austrian and Belgian members of the committee drank together to the peace of the future

Từ đồng nghĩa

• dreadfully
• drearily