glum

[ gluhm ]

adjective

, glum·mer, glum·mest.

1. sullenly or silently gloomy; dejected.

   Synonyms: melancholy, despondent, sulky, moody

glum

/ ɡlʌm /

adjective

1. silent or sullen, as from gloom

Derived Forms

• ˈglumly, adverb
• ˈglumness, noun

Other Words From

• glumly adverb
• glumness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of glum¹

1425–75; late Middle English; variant of gloom

Word History and Origins

Origin of glum¹

C16: variant of gloom

Synonym Study

Glum, morose, sullen, dour, surly all are adjectives describing a gloomy, unsociable attitude. Glum describes a depressed, spiritless condition or manner, usually temporary rather than habitual: a glum shrug of the shoulders; a glum, hopeless look in his eye. Morose, which adds to glum a sense of bitterness, implies a habitual and pervasive gloominess: a sour, morose manner; morose withdrawal from human contact. Sullen usually implies reluctance or refusal to speak accompanied by glowering looks expressing anger or a sense of injury: a sullen manner, silence, look. Dour refers to a stern and forbidding aspect, stony and unresponsive: dour rejection of friendly overtures. Surly implies gruffness of speech and manner, usually accompanied by an air of injury and ill temper: a surly reply.

Example Sentences

My youngest son was especially glum as flight delays and a missed connection left him stranded in the airport in Charlottesville, North Carolina, while his brother’s bachelor party went on without him.

From Popular-Science

They included Lupoi, who looked sheepishly glum as he nodded to a woman who is apparently his wife amongst the spectators.

From The Daily Beast

It makes for rather glum reading—not least because it was printed in 1816.

From The Daily Beast

For Derrida, in 1965, as often, the start of the summer was rather glum.

From The Daily Beast

Meanwhile, several Wall Street forecasters and other firms have lowered their estimates to the same glum ballpark.

From The Daily Beast

So why are economic forecasters so glum about the fourth quarter?

From The Daily Beast

He sat glum and thoughtful, his mind in unproductive travail, until the captain was announced.

From Project Gutenberg

Why, I could talk for eight days without taking breath, and I am by nature a glum, silent man.

From Project Gutenberg

Tessa is thinking of glum things to say to me, do sit down and say something funny.

From Project Gutenberg

The thud of a bar dropped in place punctuated the evening's experience with a glum finality.

From Project Gutenberg

I thought so because he passed us as we were coming home and was looking very glum.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• depressed
• dismal
• gloomy
• melancholy
• morose
• sad