gloomy

American  

[gloo-mee] / ˈglu mi /

adjective

gloomier, gloomiest

1. dark or dim; deeply shaded.

   gloomy skies.

   Synonyms:

   threatening, lowering, dusky, shadowy, obscure

2. causing gloom; dismal or depressing.

   a gloomy prospect.

3. filled with or showing gloom; sad, dejected, or melancholy.

   Synonyms:

   dispirited, glum, depressed, despondent, downhearted, downcast

   Antonyms:

   happy

4. hopeless or despairing; pessimistic.

   a gloomy view of the future.

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gloomy British  

/ ˈɡluːmɪ /

adjective

1. dark or dismal

2. causing depression, dejection, or gloom

   gloomy news

3. despairing; sad

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Related Words

See dark ( def. ).

Other Word Forms

• gloomily adverb
• gloominess noun
• overgloomily adverb
• overgloominess noun
• overgloomy adjective
• ungloomily adverb
• ungloomy adjective

Etymology

Origin of gloomy

First recorded in 1580–90; gloom + -y ¹

Example Sentences

Fellow lodgers at his New York City boardinghouse worried as the typically cheerful, young Fairbanks grew gloomy and distracted.

From Literature

The title character and occasional commentator, played as a gloomy babushka in a red headscarf by David Turner, foresees little hope for a glorious future.

From The Wall Street Journal

I expected to see a dark, gloomy, miserable day; but I was surprised.

From Literature

Speaking to a National Association for Business Economics conference, Goolsbee acknowledged that gloomy consumer surveys and sluggish hiring warrant some caution.

From The Wall Street Journal

Here, too, it’s easy to understand why consumers are gloomy: Even though non-housing borrowing costs have come down slightly in recent months, they remain near the highest they’ve been in five years.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• depressed
• dismal
• dour
• forlorn
• glum
• melancholy
• miserable
• pessimistic
• sad
• solemn
• sullen
• ugly