Word: dreary (adjective)

Associations

"Dreary" means something that is dull, boring, or makes you feel sad or tired. It often describes things like weather, places, or situations that lack excitement or happiness.

• The weather is dreary today. It is cloudy and rainy, making everything look gray and sad.
• The movie was dreary, so I almost fell asleep because nothing interesting happened.
• His speech was dreary and long, and many people lost interest quickly.

"Dreary" is similar to "boring," but "dreary" often adds a feeling of sadness or dullness, not just lack of interest. For example, a "boring" class might just be uninteresting, but a "dreary" day feels gloomy and makes you feel down.

Substitution

You can use these words instead of "dreary," but they change the meaning slightly:

• dull (means not bright or exciting)
• gloomy (means dark and sad)
• bleak (means without hope or cheer)
• monotonous (means always the same, boring)

For example:

• "The dull weather made me feel tired."
• "It was a gloomy afternoon with no sunshine."

Deconstruction

The word "dreary" comes from Old English "drēorig," which means sad or sorrowful. The root is related to feelings of sadness or weariness. The "-y" at the end is an adjective suffix, which means it describes something.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a place or day that felt dreary to you? Why did it feel that way?
• How would you describe a dreary classroom or a dreary weekend?
• Can something be dreary but still important or necessary? How?