Advertisement - Continue reading below

Definition of "abysmal" []

  • Resembling an abyss in depth; unfathomable. (adjective)
  • Very profound; limitless: abysmal misery. (adjective)
  • Very bad: an abysmal performance. (adjective)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "abysmal" in a sentence
  • "A University of Regina professor says the state of math education in schools can be traced to what he calls the "abysmal" training of university students studying to become teachers."
  • "Acker, Ripple-Carpenter and the former sheepherder are working to bring attention to what they call abysmal treatment of the sheepherders."
  • "G.M.B. Akash takes photos of children who live and work in abysmal conditions in Bangladesh:"