gloom

/glum/

/gləm/

Other forms: glooms

Gloom is a hazy darkness or dimness. The gloom of a moonless autumn evening is perfect for trick-or-treating, but not so perfect for sizing up your candy stash.

It might make you nervous to walk in the gloom of your friend's rural neighborhood at night if you're used to well-lit city streets. And while gloom perfectly describes the near-dark of dusk or a foggy evening, it can also describe a dark, dismal mood. Your brother's gloom when his favorite basketball team loses in the playoffs will only deepen if your favorite team wins the tournament. Gloom is a Scottish word, originally meaning "a sullen look."

Definitions of gloom

1. noun

   a state of partial or total darkness
   “he struck a match to dispel the gloom”

   synonyms: somberness, sombreness

   type of:

   semidarkness

   partial darkness
2. noun

   a feeling of melancholy apprehension
   synonyms: gloominess, somberness, sombreness

   type of:

   apprehension, apprehensiveness, dread

   fearful expectation or anticipation

   melancholy

   a feeling of thoughtful sadness
3. noun

   an atmosphere of depression and melancholy
   “gloom pervaded the office”

   synonyms: gloominess, glumness

   types:

   cloud

   a cause of worry or gloom or trouble

   bareness, bleakness, desolation, nakedness

   a bleak and desolate atmosphere

   type of:

   ambiance, ambience, atmosphere

   a particular environment or surrounding influence