Definition

In a way that is sad, gloomy, or without hope.

Example

The weather was dismally rainy all week, making everyone feel down.

Conversation

How did your game go yesterday?

It went dismally; we lost by twenty points.

That's too bad! What do you think went wrong?

Our defense was just dismally weak throughout the match.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Dismally → It is formed from "dismal" (from Middle English *dismal*, meaning ill-omened or gloomy) and the suffix "-ly" (meaning in a manner of). The word "dismally" means in a gloomy or ill-omened manner.

Memory Tip

Think of the word 'dismal' which means gloomy, and remember that 'dismally' describes doing something in a gloomy way.

Visually Confused Words