abysmal
adjective
abys·mal
ə-ˈbiz-məl 
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
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
In the third year of a disastrous seven-year, $161 million deal, Davis’ slash line was an abysmal .168/.243/.296.
—
Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2024
But to analysts and experts who had warned for years about India’s abysmal fire preparedness, the back-to-back disasters on Saturday were the latest reminder that systemic change to make the country safer was still missing.
—Hari Kumar, New York Times, 26 May 2024
Student achievement is abysmal, the majority of our students cannot demonstrate basic English, math, and science concepts when asked.
—For Carroll County Times, Baltimore Sun, 21 Apr. 2024
Those percentages can be described as abysmal for Madera (13.8% overall vs. 6.5% Latino), Tulare (13.8% overall vs. 6% Latino) and Kings (12% overall vs. 5.6% Latino) counties.
—Juan Esparza Loera, Sacramento Bee, 21 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for abysmal 
Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2024
But to analysts and experts who had warned for years about India’s abysmal fire preparedness, the back-to-back disasters on Saturday were the latest reminder that systemic change to make the country safer was still missing.
—Hari Kumar, New York Times, 26 May 2024
Student achievement is abysmal, the majority of our students cannot demonstrate basic English, math, and science concepts when asked.
—For Carroll County Times, Baltimore Sun, 21 Apr. 2024
Those percentages can be described as abysmal for Madera (13.8% overall vs. 6.5% Latino), Tulare (13.8% overall vs. 6% Latino) and Kings (12% overall vs. 5.6% Latino) counties.
—Juan Esparza Loera, Sacramento Bee, 21 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for abysmal
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'abysmal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near abysmal
Cite this Entry
“Abysmal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abysmal. Accessed 6 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
abysmal
adjective
abys·mal
ə-ˈbiz-məl
1
a
: extremely poor or bad
abysmal living conditions
b
: having an immense extension downward, backward, or inward
2
: abyssal
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