gloomy

[gloo-mee]

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.

gloomy

/ ˈɡluːmɪ /

adjective

1. dark or dismal

2. causing depression, dejection, or gloom

   gloomy news

3. despairing; sad

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of gloomy¹

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

Synonym Study

See dark ( def. ).

Example Sentences

Frost's gloomy prognosis is not shared by other senior Tory figures, in public at least.

From BBC

As party members and associated hangers-on start to arrive in Manchester today, there are reasons to be gloomy for the current leadership.

From BBC

Plenty of Labour MPs think Burnham has gone too far in the past few days, although many recognise the opinion polls paint a gloomy picture for Labour, and the prime minister.

From BBC

I ended up with a string of the gloomiest conversations in my long career — and I’ve covered two foreign civil wars and more stock market crashes and economic slumps than I can count.

From Los Angeles Times

By the time they came to bat in gloomy conditions with the floodlights on, South Africa looked a beaten side.

From BBC

Related Words

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