GLOOMY Synonyms: 294 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

gloomy

adjective

ˈglü-mē

Definition of gloomy next

as in bleak

causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer the cold rain made for a gloomy day

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in sad

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in darkened

being without light or without much light that house would be less gloomy if some of the overgrown trees and shrubs were cleared away

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Existence is a dull, gloomy slog, Iris tells us in voiceover, except for those rare moments when the clouds lift and you’re suddenly radiated by a sense of purpose. —

Tom Gliatto, People.com, 31 Jan. 2025 Being a Mariners fan is as dark and gloomy as a winter’s day in Seattle. —

Maury Brown, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025 Kennie Bukky, co-founder of The Pivot Place Courtesy of Kennie Bukky One millennial managed to save enough money to buy her own property by the age of 25, despite the gloomy economic landscape facing young people. —

Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 3 Jan. 2025 With consumers and businesses gloomy about the prospects of the world’s second-largest economy, loan growth has stalled. —

Anniek Bao, CNBC, 10 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for gloomy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gloomy

Adjective

The big picture: New data shows bleak economic conditions in Europe, especially relative to the U.S. The eurozone economy did not grow at all in the final months of 2024.

— Courtenay Brown, Axios, 30 Jan. 2025
New national test scores show a bleak picture of American education in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

— Kayla Jimenez, USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2025