abysmal

Abysmal is an English adjective describing something that is extremely bad or of very poor quality, performance, or extent. The word conveys a sense of depths reminiscent of an abyss, thus emphasizing magnitude or severity beyond ordinary badness. In everyday usage, it is commonly applied to things like outcomes, conditions, or performances, as in an abysmal turnout or abysmal weather. The intensifier is strong and sometimes hyperbolic; it is not typically used for mild shortcomings.

Etymology: Abysmal derives from the noun abyss, which itself comes from Old French abisme or abisme, from Latin abyssus, and ultimately from Greek abyssos meaning bottomless. The adjective form abysmal appeared in English in the early modern period, building on the metaphor of a bottomless depth.

Usage notes: Because it signals an extreme degree of deficiency, abysmal is best reserved for substantial criticism rather than minor flaws. It is comparable to terms like terrible or appalling, though often more vividly tied to a sense of depth or vast negative magnitude. The related noun abyss and the less common abysm share the same root, while abyssal describes relating to the deepest parts of the ocean or, figuratively, profound depths, and is not a synonym for abysmal.

See also: abyss, abysm, abyssal.