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as in sad
feeling unhappiness has been gloomy ever since the breakup with his girlfriend

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective gloomy contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of gloomy are bleak, cheerless, desolate, dismal, and dreary. While all these words mean "devoid of cheer or comfort," gloomy often suggests lack of hope or promise.

gloomy war news

When might bleak be a better fit than gloomy?

While in some cases nearly identical to gloomy, bleak suggests chill, dull, and barren characteristics that utterly dishearten.

the bleak years of the depression

When would cheerless be a good substitute for gloomy?

In some situations, the words cheerless and gloomy are roughly equivalent. However, cheerless stresses absence of anything cheering.

a drab and cheerless office

When is desolate a more appropriate choice than gloomy?

The meanings of desolate and gloomy largely overlap; however, desolate adds an element of utter remoteness or lack of human contact to any already disheartening aspect.

a desolate outpost

When can dismal be used instead of gloomy?

While the synonyms dismal and gloomy are close in meaning, dismal indicates extreme and utterly depressing gloominess.

dismal weather

Where would dreary be a reasonable alternative to gloomy?

The words dreary and gloomy can be used in similar contexts, but dreary, often interchangeable with dismal, emphasizes discouragement resulting from sustained dullness or futility.

a dreary job

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 gloomy The Bank of England and IMF have issued warnings of soaring stock valuations, but banks such as Goldman Sachs appear less gloomy , saying the market is not in bubble territory — yet. Tasmin Lockwood, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2025 With 70% of the country now in or nearing recession, Americans are already feeling gloomier. Medora Lee, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025 With gloomy-yet-gorgeous accordion melodies driven against acoustic guitars and a tololoche, the song showcases the vulnerability of a crumbling relationship through an emotional dialogue between two lovers. Tere Aguilera, Billboard, 3 Oct. 2025 Best-Smelling Body Wash With the weather cooling down, creating a spa-like experience in your shower can invigorate your senses and spark some joy this season—even on the gloomiest of days. Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 3 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gloomy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gloomy
Adjective
  • These are bleak times, and as fans continue to mourn the club’s decline, West Ham’s hierarchy have shifted their focus to the January transfer window.
    Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • As with many of Burton's best films, the real magic is the nuggets of human profundity hidden within the bleak imagery and whimsical comedy.
    Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • As Morgan and Sasha chat it up at Noah’s family’s Purim party, a sad-eyed Esther stands off to the side, quietly watching the interaction.
    Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 24 Oct. 2025
  • The footage shows Deiseroth’s demeanor teetering between sad and angry.
    David Goodhue October 24, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Over the weekend, around 16,000 people paid their respects to the designer at his funeral chamber at the Armani Teatro designed by Tadao Ando, filled with white flowers and paper lanterns on the floor in a diagonal grid formation dimly lit up the darkened venue.
    Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Nuno’s sombre facial expression did little to mask his dread over the club’s plight.
    Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Sixty-two years after that somber swearing-in, the central figures who were on board Air Force One have passed away, among them Johnson, his wife, Lady Bird, Jackie Kennedy and Hughes.
    Susan Page, USA Today, 25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Following Dombrowski’s comments and his belief that Harper is unhappy with his current contract situation, Sherman opened the door to a potential offseason trade that sends Harper elsewhere.
    Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
  • People who will be sent there include those who let their poor unhappy doggies bark endlessly, those who throw trash on the beach and those who hunt exotic animals for sport.
    Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Prince Harry wore a black blazer over a white T-shirt with dark pants.
    Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Its legs are a similar pale yellow color covered with irregular black and dark-brown markings, according to Omelko.
    Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • And that’s what's so depressing.
    Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 20 Oct. 2025
  • His college career has come to an end in a very depressing way.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Real wages remain depressed and economic growth has stalled.
    Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
  • These options include simply selling their position through open-market sales, an exchange offer or a mandatory exchangeable bond, with proceeds potentially funding a large share buyback, which would be highly accretive to Fluor's EPS, especially at its currently depressed valuation.
    Kenneth Squire, CNBC, 25 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Gloomy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gloomy. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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