Abysmal in a Sentence: Meaning & Examples

Abysmal means extremely bad or of very low quality, and it is one of the strongest everyday judgements in English. To use abysmal in a sentence, attach it to the thing that failed: “The team gave an abysmal display in the final.” The word is emphatic, so it suits strong opinion more than neutral reporting.

Abysmal at a glance

• Abysmal is an adjective; the adverb is abysmally, as in abysmally low pay.
• It means extremely bad, not merely disappointing or below average.
• The usual targets are performances, quality, service and conditions.
• It has no common comparative form, so write more abysmal rather than abysmaler.
• The spelling points to abyss, and the technical adjective for ocean depth is abyssal.
• The commonest error is mixing up abysmal with abyssal.

What does abysmal mean?

Abysmal is an adjective meaning extremely bad, or of very low quality. The Cambridge entry for abysmal records this dominant sense, and the word leaves no room for a middling verdict: an abysmal result belongs at the bottom of the scale. Where the fault is more painful than poor, use dire, which suggests serious consequences rather than simply bad work.

One limitation matters. Abysmal is a fierce, subjective judgement, and it reads as opinion rather than measurement. In a neutral report, below target or poor states the same fact without the heat, and in a job reference the word can cause real harm. Keep abysmal for reviews, commentary and conversation, where strong feeling is the point.

How do you use abysmal in a sentence?

Abysmal is an ordinary adjective, so it sits before a noun or after a linking verb. It most often labels a performance, a standard or a quality, and an at-phrase follows when the sentence names what the subject was bad at.

Abysmal in a sentence: examples across contexts

Abysmal keeps its force across settings but changes how acceptable it is. The eight sentences below move from a classroom to a restaurant review, and each one names the standard that was missed.

Four of the eight attach abysmal to a thing rather than a person, which is the safer pattern in any professional setting.

Abysmal vs appalling

Abysmal and appalling both condemn something, but they condemn it through different ideas. Abysmal measures quality and finds it at the bottom of the scale; appalling registers shock and disapproval at what was done.

Verdict: choose abysmal when the standard of work or service is rock bottom, and appalling when the subject is shocking conduct or suffering. Where the fault is merely bad and not extreme, dreadful is the moderate word.

Word forms and grammar of abysmal

Abysmal is an adjective with an adverb and a technical near neighbour. The table also lists the comparative that learners invent and the spelling error that follows from it.

Common mistakes with abysmal

• Incorrect: Scientists studied abysmal fish far below the surface. Correct: Scientists studied abyssal fish far below the surface. Rule: Abyssal means belonging to the deep ocean; abysmal means extremely bad.
• Incorrect: The second half was abysmaler than the first. Correct: The second half was more abysmal than the first. Rule: Abysmal takes more, not the ending er.
• Incorrect: He is an abysmal person. Correct: He is dreadful to work with. Rule: Abysmal judges work, results or conditions, not character.
• Incorrect: The abysmal of the report shocked the board. Correct: The poor quality of the report shocked the board. Rule: Abysmal is an adjective; it has no noun use of this kind.
• Incorrect: Sales were abysmal, though only slightly below target. Correct: Sales were poor, though only slightly below target. Rule: Abysmal is extreme, so it clashes with a mild shortfall.

Practice using abysmal

Work through the six items, then read the reasons rather than only the answers.

1. Fill the gap: Attendance was ______ all term, so the club changed its meeting day.
2. Choose the better word: Deep-sea cameras filmed (abysmal / abyssal) creatures near the trench.
3. Correct the error: The presentation was abysmaler than the rehearsal.
4. Build a sentence: use abysmal performance about a school play that went badly.
5. Spot the register: which belongs in a neutral report, results were abysmal, or results were below target?
6. Rewrite with the adverb: The project was run in a very bad way. Use abysmally instead.

Answers

1. abysmal, because the sentence gives an extreme verdict on an attendance figure.
2. abyssal, because the adjective describes the deep-ocean zone, not bad quality.
3. The presentation was more abysmal than the rehearsal, since abysmal takes more.
4. Model answer: The play ended with an abysmal performance from the lead.
5. Results were below target, because a neutral report avoids the heat of abysmal.
6. The project was abysmally managed, because the adverb modifies the verb run.

The bottom line

Use abysmal in a sentence when something is extremely bad, not merely disappointing, and let the sentence name the standard that failed. The two details that decide most sentences are that the word is a subjective judgement better suited to reviews and talk than to neutral reports, and that its near neighbour atrocious carries the same force for behaviour. Keep abyssal for the deep ocean and abysmal for quality at the bottom of the scale.

Frequently asked questions about abysmal

Is abysmal a formal word?

Abysmal sits in the middle register. It appears in reviews, commentary and everyday speech as a strong judgement, but it is too subjective for a neutral report or a policy document. In those settings, poor or below target states the same result without the editorial heat the word carries.

What is the difference between abysmal and abyssal?

Abysmal means extremely bad or of very low quality. Abyssal is a technical adjective meaning belonging to the deep ocean, and it describes creatures, plains and trenches far below the surface. The two share a root but never swap places, so a bad result is abysmal and a deep habitat is abyssal.

Can abysmal describe a person?

People say a person is abysmal at something, meaning they perform very poorly, as in she is abysmal at returning calls. Calling a person abysmal outright suggests they are bad at everything and sounds harsh. For character rather than skill, dreadful or unpleasant is the clearer word.

Why do people say an abysmal performance?

Performance fits abysmal because it names an effort that can be judged on a scale. The pairing also spreads beyond the theatre to sport, business and exams, where any result can be measured. The phrase works because it places that result at the very bottom without qualification.

Have you ever come across a sentence that left you puzzled, thinking “What did I just read?” Well, that’s the essence of an example sentence with “abysmal.” When something is described as abysmal, it means it is extremely bad or of very poor quality.

This adjective paints a picture of something that is deeply flawed, disastrous, or sinking to new lows. An abysmal example sentence is one that showcases just how low the quality or performance of something can truly be. Now, let’s dive deeper into the world of abysmal sentences and how they can be used in various contexts.

7 Examples Of Abysmal Used In a Sentence For Kids

1. The rain made the water clean after it was abysmal.
2. I hope our garden grows nice flowers, not abysmal ones.
3. We need to clean our classroom because it looks abysmal.
4. Let’s cheer up our friend who is feeling abysmal today.
5. The cat’s mood changed from abysmal to happy when we played with it.
6. The scary movie was filled with abysmal monsters.
7. Instead of feeling abysmal, let’s be happy and enjoy our day.

14 Sentences with Abysmal Examples

1. The attendance rate in our class is abysmal.
2. I received an abysmal score on my last exam.
3. The quality of the campus food is abysmal.
4. The public transportation system in the city is abysmal.
5. The Wi-Fi speed in the library is abysmal.
6. The condition of the college dormitories is abysmal.
7. The resources available in the science lab are abysmal.
8. The student-teacher ratio in some classes is abysmal.
9. The amount of time it takes for administrative processes to be completed is abysmal.
10. The cleanliness of the washrooms on campus is abysmal.
11. The availability of study materials in the library is abysmal.
12. The career guidance provided by the college is abysmal.
13. The support services for mental health issues are abysmal.
14. The parking facilities for students are abysmal.

How To Use Abysmal in Sentences?

Abysmal is used to describe something that is extremely bad, terrible, or awful. When using “abysmal” in a sentence, it is important to make sure it fits the context and conveys the intended meaning clearly. Here is a helpful guide on how to use abysmal in a sentence for beginners:

1. Identify a situation or object that is of very poor quality or exceptionally bad.

   Example: “The quality of the food at that restaurant was abysmal; I would not recommend it to anyone.”

2. Use abysmal to emphasize the extent of negativity or disappointment.

   Example: “Her performance in the exam was abysmal; she did not study enough.”

3. Remember to use abysmal to indicate a drastic level of deficiency or failure.

   Example: “The weather during our vacation was abysmal; it rained every day.”

4. When using abysmal, pay attention to the severity of the situation being described.

   Example: “The company’s profits took an abysmal dive this quarter due to poor management decisions.”

By following these guidelines, beginners can effectively use abysmal in a sentence to convey a strong sense of negativity or disappointment.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the quality of the sentences with ‘abysmal’ ranged from very poor to exceptionally low. The examples displayed a consistent theme of inadequacy and failure to meet expected standards. These sentences with ‘abysmal’ showcased a severe and dismal quality that left much to be desired in terms of effectiveness and comprehension.

Overall, the demonstrated sentences with ‘abysmal’ serve as a stark reminder of the importance of clarity and precision in communication. They highlight the negative impact that subpar writing can have on conveying ideas and engaging readers. It is crucial to strive for excellence and avoid producing content that falls into the realm of abysmal quality.