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gloom definition

gloom (glo̵̅o̅m)

intransitive verb

  1. to be or look morose, displeased, or dejected
  2. to be, become, or appear dark, dim, or dismal

Etymology: < ME gloum(b)en, to look morose, prob. < Scand, as in Norw dial. glome, to stare somberly, akin to EFris glumen, to peer secretly (< IE *ĝhlu- < base *ghêl- > gleam, glow): meaning infl. by OE glom, twilight

transitive verb

to make dark, dismal, dejected, etc.

noun

  1. darkness; dimness; obscurity
  2. a dark or dim place
  3. deep sadness or hopelessness

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

gloom Synonyms

gloom

n.

  1. Heavy shade

    shadow, murk, dimness, dark; see darkness 1.

  2. Heavy spirits

    woe, sadness, depression, dejection, melancholy, melancholia, dullness, despondency, misery, sorrow, morbidity, pensiveness, hypochondriasis, catatonia, dolor, malaise, vexation, pessimism, foreboding, low spirits, cheerlessness, heaviness of mind, weariness, apprehension, misgiving, distress, affliction, despair, oppression, anguish, grief, horror, mourning, bitterness, mortification, chagrin, discouragement, disconsolateness, the blues*, the dumps*, the doldrums*, blue funk*.

    Antonyms happiness*, optimism*, gaiety.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

gloom Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • winter: After all the doom and gloom of the winter, once more my thoughts are turning to spring.

Converse of object

  • pierce: Scimitar sharp they pierce the gloom, shadowy long fingers of doom.

Adjective modifier

  • Stygian: Despite an early optimistic weather forecast from Brian Partridge, the steady drizzle added to the Stygian gloom.

Modifies a noun

  • merchant: More recently, gloom merchants have pointed to the introduction of the euro.

Noun used with modifier

  • gathering: Now the trees stand forlorn in the gathering gloom.
gloom usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

gloom quotes

Mirth is short and transient, cheerfulness fixed and permanent† Mirth is like a flash of lightning that breaks through a gloom of clouds, and glitters for a moment: cheerfulness keeps up a kind of day-light in the mind, and fills it with a steady and perpetual serenity.

-Addison,Joseph

Lovelyare the curves of the white owl sweeping Wavy in the dusk lit by one large star. Lone on the fir-branch, his rattle-note unvaried, Brooding o'er the gloom, spins the brown eve-jar.

-Meredith, George

Where glowing embers through the room Teach light to counterfeit a gloom, Far from all resort of mirth. Save the cricket on the hearth.

-Milton,John

gloom quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"gloom." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/gloom>

APA Style

gloom. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/gloom

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