Synonyms for

Bleak

Verb / bli:k / Another word for bleak — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

Bleak means lacking in warmth, life, or kindliness. It can also mean exposed and barren, or cold and cutting.

Synonyms & similar words

Synonyms by register

Antonyms

Common collocations

  • bleak outlook
  • bleak future
  • bleak landscape
  • bleak prospects
  • bleak weather
  • bleak reality
  • bleak situation

Word family

adjective bleak
adverb bleakly

Usage note

Often used to describe weather, landscapes, or situations that are uninviting or depressing. Can also refer to a lack of hope or cheerfulness.

Example sentences

  1. The view from the top of the mountain was bleak and barren.
  2. The old, abandoned house looked bleak and creepy.
  3. The rainy day made everything look bleak and gray.
  4. The teacher's stern expression and cold tone made the classroom feel bleak and unwelcoming.
  5. Despite the bleak outlook, they refused to give up hope.

Quotes

  • The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater.
  • There is nothing so stable as change.
  • The sky is always there for me, while my life has been going through many, many changes. When I look up the sky, it gives me a nice feeling, like looking at an old friend.

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