1
as in bleak
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer
the cold rain made for a gloomy day
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sad
feeling unhappiness
has been gloomy ever since the breakup with his girlfriend
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gloomy
Gothic architecture can easily feel dark and gloomy—there’s a reason it's often associated with haunted settings in movies and television—but The Post 1898 pays reverence to the style with a heightened sense of coziness.
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Livia Caligor, Architectural Digest, 23 Dec. 2025
Looking toward 2026 Despite the current profit squeeze, business sentiment is not entirely gloomy.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 17 Dec. 2025
If your sad inflatable Santa looks more gloomy than your other jolly yard decor, chances are that no one else will want it either.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 16 Dec. 2025
Parts of Northern California and the Central Valley haven’t seen sunshine in more than three weeks, according to the National Weather Service — and the gloomy day streak isn’t over yet.
—Sacbee.com, 16 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gloomy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gloomy
Adjective
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Her family later learned that on April 23, 2021 — the day Parker found his aunt in a bleak mood — Dee had an angry confrontation over financial issues with two employees of the trucking company.—
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Some of Tarr’s most memorable scenes feature landscapes, often bleak and despairing settings of decaying Hungarian towns, punctuated with close-ups of characters’ faces.—
Adjective
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In Democratic cities, people demand 38 meetings and three dozen environmental assessments before tearing down a crack den to build a nursery for sad orphans.—
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Although there are infinitely many happy numbers there are also infinitely many sad ones.—
Adjective
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By becoming the light in a darkened world, everyone becomes a firefly that helps to illuminate the way back home to each other.—
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Over the weekend, around 16,000 people paid their respects to the designer at his funeral chamber at the Armani Teatro designed by Tadao Ando, filled with white flowers and paper lanterns on the floor in a diagonal grid formation dimly lit up the darkened venue.—
Adjective
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With so many comedy writers on the bill, the Broder tribute was no somber affair.—
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As is tradition, all the women were dressed in black ensembles to mark the somber occasion, which commemorates members of the military from Britain and the Commonwealth who have died in battle.—
Adjective
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This is a no-win situation because one of us will end up unhappy.—
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The automaker spent much of the year undoing decisions made by the previous CEO, Carlos Tavares, who resigned at the end of 2024, as stakeholders in the company — from dealers to union rank and file — were upset with him and unhappy with his leadership.—
Adjective
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Don't feel afraid to play with bold (but dark) colors and various materials.—
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Open my soul to the vast dark places.—
Adjective
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In the story, there is a lot of comedy that naturally arises from tragic moments, from dark, depressing moments.—
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This is par for the course, because conversations are confusing, even depressing.—
Adjective
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Countries such as the Netherlands and Canada that passed similar bills have gone on to expand this type of legislation to allow doctors to give lethal medication to the depressed and other people with mental illnesses.—
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Yes, our political leaders have given some of us reason to be resentful, cynical and even depressed.—
Cite this Entry
“Gloomy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gloomy. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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