ENGLISH WORD FILE NO. 00480 · Core CSAT & TOEIC Vocabulary
bleak
adj.
US/bliːk/
UK/bliːk/
CSAT Frequency62/100
TOEIC Frequency48/100
02
Meanings of bleak
1adjective
Cold, bare, and unwelcoming in appearance or atmosphere.
The bleak landscape of the Arctic tundra stretches endlessly.
The bleak landscape of the Arctic tundra stretches endlessly.
After the company closed, the future looked bleak for local workers.
After the company closed, the future looked bleak for local workers.
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Derivatives of bleak
bleakly
bleakly (adverb)
The professor bleakly warned that climate change will worsen without action.
The professor bleakly warned that climate change will worsen without action.
bleakness
bleakness (noun)
The bleakness of winter combined with unemployment deepened his depression.
The bleakness of winter combined with unemployment deepened his depression.
look bleak
look bleak (verb phrase)
The prospects for peace in the region look bleak after recent tensions.
The prospects for peace in the region look bleak after recent tensions.
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Synonyms & Antonyms of bleak
05
Common Phrases with bleak
bleak landscapebleak landscape
bleak futurebleak future
bleak outlookbleak outlook
bleak picturebleak picture
look bleaklook bleak
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Practice Question: bleak
Choose the best word for the blank
The economic situation appears ___ unless the government implements new reforms.
- A bleakly
- B bleakness
- C bleak
- D bleaker
The adjective 'bleak' is needed here to describe the condition of 'situation'; 'bleakly' is an adverb, 'bleakness' is a noun, and 'bleaker' is a comparative form, none of which fit this predicate structure.