gloom

[gloom]

noun

1. total or partial darkness; dimness.

   Synonyms: obscurity, shade, shadow
   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

verb

1. (intr) to look sullen or depressed

2. to make or become dark or gloomy

Other Word Forms

• gloomful adjective
• gloomfully adverb
• gloomless adjective
• outgloom verb (used with object)
• undergloom noun
• ungloom verb (used with object)

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of gloom¹

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

Example Sentences

Not surprisingly, the star almost makes the movie’s suffocating gloom resonate.

From Los Angeles Times

Who says everything has to be doom and gloom all the time?

From Salon

The job was not all doom and gloom.

From BBC

"There's been a lot of maybe doom and gloom about the prospects of a graduate," added Mr James.

From BBC

Kershaw’s retirement might’ve provided a similar spark, highlighting the significance of such intangible dynamics while lifting the gloom that had clouded the team’s last two months.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• anguish 
• bitterness 
• despair 
• discouragement 
• doldrums 
• foreboding 
• grief 
• horror 
• malaise 
• misery 
• pessimism 
• sadness 
• sorrow 
• weariness 
• woe