1
as in bleak
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer
the usual glum waiting room at the tax collector's office a cold, glum day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sad
feeling unhappiness
how can you be glum after such a great day?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in pouting
given to or displaying a resentful silence and often irritability
a chronically glum and pouting child
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 glum
Despite her glum report, Bothwell expressed some hope.
—
Steven Mihailovich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 June 2025
So those are the tracks that determinedly break from the overriding tone that runs through the other songs, which is rather more glum, or at least searching and reflective about why too much time got wasted in a long, nowhere love affair.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 20 June 2025
Returning to work and dealing with strict COVID-19 protocols, inflation and supply-chain issues, crews could be glum.
—Steve Knopper, Billboard, 9 June 2025
Losses weren’t quite as dire as on Thursday for media and tech stocks, but the morning still signaled a glum end to a turbulent week.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for glum
Steven Mihailovich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 June 2025
So those are the tracks that determinedly break from the overriding tone that runs through the other songs, which is rather more glum, or at least searching and reflective about why too much time got wasted in a long, nowhere love affair.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 20 June 2025
Returning to work and dealing with strict COVID-19 protocols, inflation and supply-chain issues, crews could be glum.
—Steve Knopper, Billboard, 9 June 2025
Losses weren’t quite as dire as on Thursday for media and tech stocks, but the morning still signaled a glum end to a turbulent week.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for glum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for glum
Adjective
-
Meanwhile, things are looking bleak for John Cena’s Chris Smith.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
10 Oct. 2025
-
But while these models are enthrall Environmental activist Jane Goodall, who died Wednesday at the age of 91, understood the bleak projections from climate scientists — and the economic and political structures that hinder change.—
Esther Zuckerman,
Time,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
How’s this for a sad old country tune?—
Aaron Portzline,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
-
The results were a shock to the family, but one that was tinged with a sad realization.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
These early, somber moments cast a mood, but the film is eager to hold Polly’s feet to some fire.—
J. Kim Murphy,
Variety,
11 Oct. 2025
-
The primary hue associated with passion and confidence is the instant energy boost your wardrobe needs—especially during the fall and winter, when the somber mood outside often gets expressed in neutrals-heavy style.—
Andrea Zendejas,
Vogue,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Matthiessen was born in 1927 to a pair of well-off, chronically depressed New Yorkers, people who were more likely to pour a stiff drink or take to their beds than to talk openly about their feelings.—
Maggie Doherty,
New Yorker,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Roberts plays an unhappy American in Venice who is wooed by depressed, divorced, and done-with-love Allen in a variety of vaguely dishonest ways.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
However, such symptoms are hard to attribute to vaccines because infants can be irritable or fussy regardless of vaccination.—
Aria Bendix,
NBC news,
19 Sep. 2025
-
When the caffeine wears off, children may have a headache and feel irritable or tired.—
Dr. Mark Corkins,
Boston Herald,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
As gaming becomes a more mainstream activity, however, these stereotypes grow more archaic, and a new study from the Entertainment Software Association suggests that the universal image of a gamer as a lonely young male is not just outdated, but inaccurate.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
8 Oct. 2025
-
His lonely white panel cap, the lucky charm the Jays wore for four-straight victories, sat alone on a cushioned chair.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
He was told by Talent Relations that the creative team was unhappy with him.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025
-
The now-37-year-old wasn’t unhappy with her job.—
Mike Winters,
CNBC,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Mark, with his fighting regimen, is a lot to handle, but so is Dawn, who’s a rather sullen party-girl princess.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
1 Sep. 2025
-
The President is a sullen bore, but Servillo’s performance is always a hair less moribund than the movie around it, and held tight by the sincerity of his ambivalence.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
27 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Glum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/glum. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share