1
as in sadness
a state or spell of low spirits
has been in a perpetual gloom since his dog died
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dark
a time or place of little or no light
the gloom of a rainy night is the perfect setting for a mystery story
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to glare
to look with anger or disapproval
we just sat there, glooming, as we waited and waited for our dinners to arrive
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to darken
to take on a gloomy or forbidding look
he continued to gloom over the fact that he had been passed over for promotion to district manager
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gloom
Laura Manske, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Women and older shoppers were more likely to feel doom and gloom, Schwartz said.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 16 Sep. 2025
Emiko Jozuka, CNN, 5 Oct. 2022
Our imperviousness to gloom is our own peculiar virtue.
—Murr Brewster, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Mar. 2022
See All Example Sentences for gloom
Noun
There’s a lot of doom and gloom in the world now.
—Laura Manske, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Women and older shoppers were more likely to feel doom and gloom, Schwartz said.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
But, there is still gloom ahead for economies in the region.
—Emiko Jozuka, CNN, 5 Oct. 2022
Our imperviousness to gloom is our own peculiar virtue.
—Murr Brewster, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Mar. 2022
See All Example Sentences for gloom
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gloom
Noun
-
There’s not even a sadness or an anger.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
1 Oct. 2025
-
When his dog, Grace, died the year before, at the age of sixteen and a half, the sadness was overwhelming.—
Ann Patchett,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Boaters can also camp on their boats, which is the perfect opportunity to stargaze after dark.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
27 Sep. 2025
-
Inevitable, then, is the choice between light and dark, which is essential to connote the personality of the lipstick.—
Beatrice Zocchi,
Vogue,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Mariners defense worries me, but there’s not an American League team that doesn’t have a glaring flaw.—
The Athletic MLB Staff,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Per some glaring social media posts that went viral last week, the distributor seemingly used AI to face swap a male character with the face of a woman.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
When the sky darkens, her stomach clenches.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
1 Oct. 2025
-
With an athlete’s discipline, Blass refused to let his pitching darken his mood at home.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
If conditions are right, the clusters swirl into a storm known as a tropical wave or tropical depression.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
28 Sep. 2025
-
The depression trudged along at 2 mph with 35-mph winds, center officials said.—
Joe Marusak,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
If dogs are our servants, cats are our shadows.—
Rebecca van Laer
September 30,
Literary Hub,
30 Sep. 2025
-
The shadows will make things difficult, as could the wind.—
Sahadev Sharma,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
That video showed the cat staring sadly through a glass pane, showcasing yet again the intensity of her feelings about being separated from her owner.—
Maria Morava,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
-
The turnaround at Ralph Lauren Ralph Lauren was staring irrelevance in the face when Procter & Gamble veteran Patrice Louvet took over as CEO and brought the fashion brand back to its luxury roots.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
According to Coker, Robb & Cannon, these consequences can also damage your case in family court, as judges generally frown on surveillance between spouses or co-parents.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Sep. 2025
-
Not explained is whether Makary would be happier if drug companies placed ads with immobile patients, frowns, and funereal music.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gloom.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gloom. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share