Definition of cheerlessnext

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective cheerless contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of cheerless are bleak, desolate, dismal, dreary, and gloomy. While all these words mean "devoid of cheer or comfort," cheerless stresses absence of anything cheering.

a drab and cheerless office

When could bleak be used to replace cheerless?

The meanings of bleak and cheerless largely overlap; however, bleak suggests chill, dull, and barren characteristics that utterly dishearten.

the bleak years of the depression

Where would desolate be a reasonable alternative to cheerless?

In some situations, the words desolate and cheerless are roughly equivalent. However, desolate adds an element of utter remoteness or lack of human contact to any already disheartening aspect.

a desolate outpost

When is it sensible to use dismal instead of cheerless?

While in some cases nearly identical to cheerless, dismal indicates extreme and utterly depressing gloominess.

dismal weather

When might dreary be a better fit than cheerless?

The synonyms dreary and cheerless are sometimes interchangeable, but dreary, often interchangeable with dismal, emphasizes discouragement resulting from sustained dullness or futility.

a dreary job

When is gloomy a more appropriate choice than cheerless?

While the synonyms gloomy and cheerless are close in meaning, gloomy often suggests lack of hope or promise.

gloomy war news

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 cheerless The storm let up before daybreak, but the morning was gray and cheerless with a cold wind. Elwyn "bud" Myers, Outdoor Life, 11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cheerless
Adjective
  • Houssem Aouar finally spied a gap in the Austrian defence and sent Mahrez through to score, sparking jubilation before Sasa Kalajdzic’s header confirmed a ridiculous ending to a game that was dramatic, bleak and then dramatic again.
    Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 4 July 2026
  • Kehoe pointed to the state’s bleak finances in a statement explaining his cuts on Tuesday.
    Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026
Adjective
  • His lonely life away from friends Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) included sleeping under the stairs.
    Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 30 June 2026
  • Thrown into the thick of a ballet season, the dancer explained that there wasn’t time to be lonely.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026
Adjective
  • The film breathes in a dynamic way, the last few beats taking a startling turn toward a somber wistfulness.
    Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2026
  • The hilltop De Smet Cemetery strikes a somber note.
    Alicia Underlee Nelson, Midwest Living, 22 June 2026
Adjective
  • The top-of-the-line chef’s kitchen sports metallic cabinetry paired with dark marble countertops and backsplashes.
    Tori Latham, Robb Report, 30 June 2026
  • These include rolled or folded leaf blades, a dark or blue tinge to the foliage, or lingering footprints after walking on the lawn.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 29 June 2026
Adjective
  • What a depressing, disturbing waste, no matter the final verdict.
    Bob Wojnowski, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 June 2026
  • After watching and enjoying the film, a somewhat depressing thought leaped into my mind.
    Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 8 June 2026
Adjective
  • Walking around the tiny outpost offers an understanding of just how vast and desolate this arid part of the country can be.
    Maryam Siddiqi, Travel + Leisure, 30 June 2026
  • In the summer it had been packed with people out on the streets, by the fall is was desolate.
    Bloomberg News, Boston Herald, 27 June 2026
Adjective
  • Research from the University of Delaware’s Department of Women and Gender Studies found that body image concerns resulting from social pressures are linked to lower self-esteem, depressive symptoms, and disordered eating in young women.
    Maia Niguel Hoskin, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Research also suggests changes in brain chemistry involving neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine can cause depressive symptoms.
    Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 30 June 2026
Adjective
  • Ureña, a 22-year-old right-hander who has emerged as another potential ace, speaks of Soriano with a giddy amusement mixed with a solemn respect for how the starter has survived in the big leagues.
    Liana Handler, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
  • Dozens of firefighters lined the street in a solemn salute to their fallen colleagues.
    Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 29 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Cheerless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cheerless. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

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