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

as in bleak

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 The Cathcarts’ office is gloomy and dark, while the Taylor & Byrne rooms are filled with light and air. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026 Hood's gloomy portrait is literary, but the climatological record supports its central contrast with October. — Joe Rao, Space.com, 8 Oct. 2026 The fixture can attach to any flat surface with stick-on adhesives in just seconds, so say goodbye to the days of dim bathroom lighting or cooking under gloomy overheads. — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 7 Oct. 2026 Wife Hilaria Baldwin is generally shot in full light and given the grace to look prepared for the moment, while Alec is often featured in gloomy found light or with uncomfortable intimacy from the passenger seats of cars and whatnot. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gloomy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gloomy

Adjective

Unlike Gregor Samsa who is confined to his room after transforming into a huge insect, the protagonist still has to go to work, a dark and bleak absurdity that lays bare the alienation, isolation, and hypocrisy of modern life.

— Deadline, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026
Providing a faint ray of hope in this otherwise bleak start to life, the five baby orangutans have been settling into their new surroundings in Odisha at the Nandankanan Zoo.

— Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of bleak

Adjective

When the modern-day world has nothing to offer us but AI slop, shrinkflation and a sad acceptance that we can't be bothered to do anything about global warming.

— Ian Stokes, Space.com, 19 Oct. 2026
This island that was so fantastic has become Work Island and that’s sad.

— Joe Lynch, Billboard, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of sad

Adjective

Around them stand darkened houses, and uncollected trash piles up on the street.

— Will Freeman, Foreign Affairs, 17 Sep. 2026
This trend has been pretty pervasive among designer bags recently, with shoppers buying new Prada and Chanel bags with darkened leather to give them a used look, or sourcing vintage Celine bags with obvious signs of wear.

— Irene Richardson, InStyle, 2 July 2026

Definition of darkened

Adjective

Some are somber, like the single mom Mekko’s left in the lurch or a fellow journalist who prefers feel-good fluff pieces to muckraking.

— Alison Herman, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026
The trailer opens on the somber, grayscale world of London before entering the wild, psychedelic, and magical world of Narnia.

— Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of somber

Adjective

Dudus was apparently unhappy about a recent NBC News article that exposed Combs’ cushy life behind bars.

— Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026
Tim Boyd San Juan Capistrano I’m sure there are Dodgers fans unhappy about losing to the Brewers.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of unhappy

Adjective

In these situations, withdrawing into a literal or symbolic dark room—avoiding sources of stress and going to a safe place—can be adaptive in the short term.

— Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Connie Britton and Sam Nivola lead the series created by Nick Paley that blends mystery, dark comedy and the awkwardness of adolescence.

— Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of dark

Adjective

Celebrated as masterpieces today, at the time they were regarded as the unpolished works of a depressed, crazy man and commercially worthless.

— Joan Martelli, Time, 17 Oct. 2026
In the event of a severe winter or import bottlenecks, depressed storage levels not only narrow Europe's capacity to absorb supply shocks but also risk driving natural gas prices higher.

— , CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of depressed

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“Gloomy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gloomy. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of gloomy

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