bleak

Bleak is an English adjective that describes conditions that are cold, barren, exposed, or desolate. It can refer to weather, landscapes, or atmospheres that feel austere and unwelcoming. The term is also used metaphorically to describe prospects, moods, or situations that seem hopeless or grim.

Etymology: The word's exact origin is uncertain, but in English it has long carried a sense of bare or stark harshness. Historically it has been used to denote a bleak or desolate appearance, later broadening to describe emotional tone and future expectations.

Usage and examples: In geography and meteorology, bleak conditions include windswept coasts, gray skies, and frigid temperatures. In literature and criticism, bleak settings convey hardship or moral difficulty, as in novels or poems that emphasize desolation. The common phrase in the bleak midwinter appears in the Christina Rossetti poem and the later Christmas carol. Bleak also appears in phrases such as bleak prognosis or bleak economic conditions, indicating a dour outlook.

See also: desolate, barren, austere.