1
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
2
as in sad
feeling unhappiness
has been gloomy ever since the breakup with his girlfriend
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
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
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
But if your yard isn’t particularly shady or a sunny day suddenly turns gloomy, being outside isn’t quite as comfortable.
—
Brittany Vanderbill, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 June 2025
The widespread street flooding from two gloomy days of rain last week in South Florida is just a hint of things to come.
—Alex Harris, Sun Sentinel, 12 June 2025
The sky is looking a bit gloomy and gray for the team in the Windy City.
—Devin Robertson, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025
The Market’s Still Close To Record Highs Despite the gloomy headlines, here’s some good news: the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 are only about 2-3% below their all-time highs.
—Adam Sarhan, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for gloomy
Brittany Vanderbill, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 June 2025
The widespread street flooding from two gloomy days of rain last week in South Florida is just a hint of things to come.
—Alex Harris, Sun Sentinel, 12 June 2025
The sky is looking a bit gloomy and gray for the team in the Windy City.
—Devin Robertson, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025
The Market’s Still Close To Record Highs Despite the gloomy headlines, here’s some good news: the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 are only about 2-3% below their all-time highs.
—Adam Sarhan, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for gloomy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gloomy
Adjective
-
The reversal is notable because this traditionally bleak indicator had been trending more positively under Trump's second term—until now.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 July 2025
-
Restaurants were closed, staff were furloughed, and the broad outlook on the hospitality industry’s future was, in a word, bleak.—
Lela London,
Forbes.com,
18 July 2025
Adjective
-
The sad reality is that Lucky really hasn't had all that much luck in his life to date.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 July 2025
-
These people have gone through hell, and so checking in sometimes is just equally as sad and devastating.—
Brenna Ehrlich,
Rolling Stone,
25 July 2025
Adjective
-
The work’s third movement offers an intriguing pizzicato section, as well moments of discordant — though not somber — unease.—
Sheila Regan,
Twin Cities,
11 July 2025
-
Both the original Godzilla film—produced in Japan less than a decade after Hiroshima and Nagasaki—and the 1956 version released in the States (with a performance by the actor Raymond Burr spliced in for American audiences) are somber and even daring for the time.—
Tom Nichols,
The Atlantic,
10 July 2025
Adjective
-
That's become a new line of attack for the Trump administration, which is already unhappy with the Fed for not moving more aggressively to lower interest rates.—
Scott Horsley,
NPR,
14 July 2025
-
Speculation is that Ferrari is unhappy with Vasseur's performance, although these rumors have been shut down by Vasseur, Lewis Hamilton, and Charles Leclerc.—
Saajan Jogia,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 July 2025
Adjective
-
Transformed into a swan by the evil sorcerer Rothbart, Odette and Siegfried's love faces an impossible battle against dark forces.—
Maggie Menderski,
The Courier-Journal,
22 July 2025
-
The other dark money entity paying for ads that promote a candidate is 5Plus1, which has been spending oodles on billboards and campaign literature mailed to Detroiters that promote Sheffield, the city council president.—
M.L. Elrick,
Freep.com,
21 July 2025
Adjective
-
For women, the situation is even more depressing with 90% of women excluded from the workforce, unable to work outside their homes.—
Natasha Lindstaedt,
Forbes.com,
17 July 2025
-
And blame can be depressing; accepting responsibility for something that went terribly wrong is often painful and embarrassing.—
Olga Khazan,
The Atlantic,
14 July 2025
Adjective
-
Too little could leave you feeling down and even depressed.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
19 July 2025
-
Francis was depressed and couldn’t get out of bed for months, and in July 1976, a jury awarded her $2.6 million, finding the Howard Johnson chain responsible for her unsafe room.—
Mike Barnes,
HollywoodReporter,
17 July 2025
Adjective
-
Anton and his second wife adopted Jean sometime during the Depression, but the details are murky.—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
14 July 2025
-
While the Celtics have made a couple of small additions, the future is still a bit murky.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gloomy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gloomy. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share