Dystopian

medium

dis-TOH-pee-un

adjective

Definition

Relating to or denoting an imagined state or society where there is great suffering or injustice

Examples

The novel depicted a dystopian future of environmental collapse.
Dystopian films often warn about current social trends.

Synonyms

nightmarishbleakoppressivehellish

Antonyms

utopianidyllicparadisiacalideal

Categories

GRE Tip

Dystopian is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "nightmarish" or "bleak" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "utopian".

Related GRE Words

Master dystopian and 800+ GRE words

Learn through stories, practice with real GRE questions, and never forget with spaced repetition.