adj
dreary
DREER-ree
adj
1
Dull, gloomy, and depressing.
"It was a dreary, rain-soaked afternoon."
"The office had a dreary grey carpet and no windows."
How to Use Dreary
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishGloomy, drab, and lacking any cheer — often used for weather or dull surroundings.
Common pairings
a dreary day
dreary weather
dreary routine
Word Forms
drearier comparative, more dreary comparative, drearies plural, dreariest superlative, most dreary superlative
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It was a _____, rain-soaked afternoon.
Etymology
From Old English drēoriġ, "sad" or "bloody," from a root meaning "to break or crumble" — related to the idea of being worn down by grief.