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View synonyms for gloom

gloom

[ gloom ]

noun

  1. total or partial darkness; dimness.

    Synonyms: obscurity, shadow, shade

    Antonyms: brightness

  2. a state of melancholy or depression; low spirits.

    Synonyms: sadness, despondency, dejection

    Antonyms: cheerful

  3. a despondent or depressed look or expression.


verb (used without object)

  1. to appear or become dark, dim, or somber.
  2. to look sad, dismal, or dejected; frown.

verb (used with object)

  1. to fill with gloom; make gloomy or sad; sadden.
  2. to make dark or somber.

gloom

/ ɡluːm /

noun

  1. partial or total darkness
  2. a state of depression or melancholy
  3. an appearance or expression of despondency or melancholy
  4. poetic.
    a dim or dark place
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. intr to look sullen or depressed
  2. to make or become dark or gloomy
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈgloomfully, adverb
  • ˈgloomful, adjective
  • ˈgloomless, adjective
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Other Words From

  • gloomful adjective
  • gloomful·ly adverb
  • gloomless adjective
  • outgloom verb (used with object)
  • under·gloom noun
  • un·gloom verb (used with object)
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Word History and Origins

Origin of gloom1

1300–50; Middle English gloumben, glomen to frown, perhaps representing Old English *glūmian (akin to early German gläumen to make turbid); glum
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Word History and Origins

Origin of gloom1

C14 gloumben to look sullen; related to Norwegian dialect glome to eye suspiciously
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Example Sentences

Along with the gloom, there is a strong sense of déjà vu - like we have seen this all many times before in the past 15 years.

From BBC

But her youth wasn’t just doom and gloom.

As a reminder to negotiators of the urgency of the situation there was fresh scientific gloom.

From BBC

It is also likely that we will see some sunshine this week, after the lack of sunshine so far in November under the anticyclonic gloom.

From BBC

Anticyclonic gloom has settled on the UK recently bringing extensive cloud.

From BBC

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glomusgloom and doom