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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 French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou was gloomier than some other European leaders on the deal. Auzinea Bacon, CNN Money, 27 July 2025 The group’s approach was dark and gloomy, with Butler’s nocturnal vision of a dark figure at the end of his bed inspiring the band’s title track. Roy Trakin, HollywoodReporter, 22 July 2025 Given that gloomy forecast, general consensus is that treating the condition as early as possible is extremely important in shielding neurons from damage and protecting brain health. New Atlas, 9 July 2025 After a celebratory June, which saw the S&P 500 reach record highs, July is off to a gloomy start. Leo Schwartz, Fortune, 8 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for gloomy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gloomy
Adjective
  • Directed by Paul Schrader with a script by Bret Easton Ellis, this spiritually bleak L.A. drama features Lohan’s most daring performance, and probably the only one that manages to break completely with her childhood and adolescent roles.
    Tom Gliatto, People.com, 9 Aug. 2025
  • The situation is bleak enough that, even if aid increases rapidly in the coming weeks, deaths from starvation are almost certain to rise.
    Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Charlotte Lawrence loves a good, gut-wrenching, sad song.
    Leah Lu, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Advertisement Advertisement Apologists for Israeli Government policy may argue that Israel is not intentionally starving people in Gaza, dismissing the famine as a sad consequence of a war, but the traditional Jewish sources are unequivocal.
    Michael S. Roth, Time, 6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • High-contrast, stark black-and-white tones, water droplets and a somber expression emerging from shadows.
    Evan J. Schwartz, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025
  • There were no somber emotions this time from Dončić’s side, with Balkan music blasting throughout the practice facility before he and Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka held a news conference to celebrate Dončić’s extension.
    Khobi Price, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • As with almost any change, some residents were unhappy, mostly about being told to slow down.
    Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
  • President Donald Trump was unhappy with July’s U.S. jobs report, which showed hiring slowing (with 73,000 jobs added, compared to 100,000 predicted) and revised past months’ numbers.
    Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Sydney Sweeney’s new dark crime comedy Americana is new in theaters this weekend.
    Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
  • One look at his lone, dark face in his Brighton High class picture tells you.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The fact that the jokes about Joao Felix come so easily is a little depressing.
    Liam Twomey, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2025
  • Ari Aster’s first feature kicked off with the accidental decapitation of a child, and each subsequent film has only gotten more depressing from there.
    Nate Jones, Vulture, 18 July 2025
Adjective
  • That view shifted Wednesday, with our double upgrade back to our buy-equivalent 1 rating after CEO David Ricks and several other company insiders bought lots of shares of the depressed stock.
    Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Though heartbreaking, the film is rooted in laughter, with Jamie living his life not in a depressed state but rather choosing to live in the moment.
    Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Earth features similarly murky visuals and fearsome monsters, many original to the show.
    Judy Berman, Time, 5 Aug. 2025
  • As with many of the trade deals Trump has announced, many of the particulars with the EU-U.S. agreement remain quite murky.
    Saige Miller, NPR, 2 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Gloomy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gloomy. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

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