the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
adj. Pertaining to, or resembling, an abyss; bottomless; unending; profound.
The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
Pertaining to an abyss; bottomless; profound; fathomless; immeasurable.
Specifically Pertaining to great depths in the ocean: thus, species of plants found only at great depths are called abysmal species, and also abyssal (which see).
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
adj. resembling an abyss in depth; so deep as to be unmeasurable
adj. very great; limitless
Word Usage
"A University of Regina professor says the state of math education in schools can be traced to what he calls the "abysmal" training of university students studying to become teachers."