bleak Definition
- 1lacking vegetation and exposed to the elements
- 2cold and miserable
- 3without hope or encouragement; depressing
Using bleak: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "bleak" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The landscape was bleak and barren.
Example
The weather was bleak and rainy all week.
Example
The future looks bleak for the company.
Example
The novel paints a bleak picture of society.
bleak Synonyms and Antonyms
Idioms Using bleak
a bleak picture
a negative or depressing portrayal of something
Example
The report painted a bleak picture of the company's financial situation.
a bleak prospect
a future event that is unlikely to be successful or happy
Example
The prospect of losing his job was a bleak one for John.
a bleak winter
a winter that is cold, dark, and depressing
Example
After her husband died, Mary faced a bleak winter alone.
Phrases with bleak
a bleak outlook
a pessimistic view of the future
Example
The pandemic has left many people with a bleak outlook on life.
a bleak future
a future that is unlikely to be successful or happy
Example
Without proper education, the children in this community face a bleak future.
a bleak landscape
an area that is barren and unattractive
Example
The desert can be a bleak landscape, but it has its own beauty.
Origins of bleak
from Old Norse 'bleikr', meaning 'pale'
Summary: bleak in Brief
'Bleak' [blik] describes a place that is exposed to the elements, without vegetation, and often cold and miserable. It also refers to a hopeless or depressing situation, as in 'The future looks bleak for the company.' Phrases like 'a bleak outlook' and idioms like 'a bleak picture' extend the meaning to include pessimism and negativity.
