bleaker

ADJECTIVE

barren

Synonyms

STRONGEST

austere chilly cold desolate dreary grim

WEAK

bare blank blighted bombed bulldozed burned cleared deforested desert deserted exposed flat gaunt open raw scorched stripped unpopulated unsheltered weather-beaten wild windswept

Antonyms

STRONGEST

bright cheerful friendly happy hot sympathetic warm

WEAK

appealing comfortable comforting congenial encouraging nice pleasant sunny

ADJECTIVE

depressing

Synonyms

STRONGEST

dark dismal dreary gloomy grim harsh lonely sad somber

WEAK

black cheerless comfortless discouraging disheartening drear funereal hard hopeless joyless melancholy mournful oppressive unpromising

Antonyms

STRONGEST

bright cheerful encouraging glad happy hopeful joyful light pleasant sunny

WEAK

appealing comfortable comforting congenial nice

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But looking at annual existing-home sales alone paints a bleaker picture than warranted.

From Barron's • Jan. 6, 2026

However, Arsenal themselves have a much bleaker record as they've been top at Christmas four times before but have never gone on to lift the trophy.

From BBC • Dec. 20, 2025

But escape from the irritations of that companionship seems a still bleaker prospect—and an impossibility.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 31, 2025

Thirty-odd years later, the cycle is repeating, with even bleaker results.

From Salon • Oct. 7, 2025

“The situation is undoubtedly bleaker now,” they wrote.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove