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
David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 23 Dec. 2025
In the months thereafter, McNamara’s gloom deepened.
—Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 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
Its arrival at the end of a year marked by box-office gloom for films of its type — sophisticated, relatively quiet character studies made for adults — is top of mind for Dern.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 23 Dec. 2025
In the months thereafter, McNamara’s gloom deepened.
—Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 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
-
Emotions were on full display with many expressing sadness and frustration, not only over Wednesday's federal raid, but raids happening around the Twin Cities over the last 40 days.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The initial answer to that question is a no, according to some evangelical pastors and commentators who reacted with shock and sadness to Yancey’s confession.—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Columbus Police The footage shows the person in a dark, hooded top and lighter color pants, walking with their hands in their pockets.—
Kiki Intarasuwan,
CBS News,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Sunny skies by day often bring clear nightscapes after dark, so soak up the starry splendor on the Tucson Astro Trail, which links 12 area observatories and dark-sky parks.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Outside,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
When state media broadcasts funerals for fighters killed in Syria or Yemen while Iran’s hospitals lack basic supplies, the disconnect between rhetoric and reality becomes glaring.—
Kamran Talattof,
The Conversation,
6 Jan. 2026
-
The Rams’ 27-24 loss to the Falcons did not result exclusively because of injuries, but the holes left by missing starters were apparent and in some cases glaring.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Legal challenges looming The financial outlook could darken further depending on the judicial branch.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
8 Jan. 2026
-
This higher temperature darkens the paste, slightly caramelizes the sugar, and deactivates enzymes that would otherwise break down pectin, resulting in a thicker, more cooked-tasting product.—
Anne Wolf,
Martha Stewart,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
And on a more basic level, gardening activities also serve to reduce anxiety, aggression and depression, and to increase cognitive function.—
The San Diego Union Tribune,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Feeling tired is not a typical sign of high blood pressure and is more often linked to other issues like poor sleep, depression, or low blood pressure.—
Alexandria Nyembwe,
Health,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The changes also allowed Mingo to step out of the shadows cast by André DeShields and Richard Pryor, who played the Wiz in the original Broadway show and 1978 movie adaptation, and make the role his own.—
Peter Larsen,
Oc Register,
7 Jan. 2026
-
In it, prisoners trapped inside a cave perceive the world only through shadows cast by outside objects.—
Ben Brubaker,
Quanta Magazine,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Part of me believes that, if Indiana wins, Cignetti should retire after this season and spend the rest of his life on a beach, scowling at resort attendants and being basically unimpeachable forever.—
Will Leitch,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Another line of attack likens the show to when bachelorette parties invade gay bars — a practice frequently scowled upon by gay patrons.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Coppola and production designer Ziering will explore their creative partnership, the aesthetic and emotional storytelling that defines Coppola’s visual universe — from the suburban melancholy of Palo Alto to the luminous complexity of The Last Showgirl.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Full of dread and melancholy, the Austrian import flips the creepy-kid script a bit by centering on two boys (Elias and Lukas Schwarz) who wonder whether their mom (Susanne Wuest), whose head is wrapped in bandages after facial surgery, is actually their mom. 38.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gloom.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gloom. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share