cheerlessness
Absence of mirth
Cheerlessness is the quality of being gloomy, joyless, or devoid of warmth.
It describes both emotional states and atmospheres: The cheerlessness of the empty house matched her mood.
The word suggests not active misery but the absence of anything to lift the spirits—a drab, dispiriting quality that settles over places, situations, or dispositions.
State of dispiriting dullness
- bleaknessQuality of being dreary
- drabnessAbsence of color or interest
- graynessNeutral, muted hue
- overcastSky fully veiled
gloom · dimness · murkiness · darkness · dullness · starkness · barrenness · lifelessness
Wearisome dullness
- boredomWeary disinterest from monotony
- dullnessLack of stimulation
- wearinessState of being drained
- monotonyTiresome lack of change
repetitiveness · staleness · flatness · dreariness · sameness · uneventfulness · spiritlessness · languor
Subdued, lasting sadness
- sadnessState of emotional pain
- sorrowDeep emotional distress
- joylessnessLack of delight
- gloominessSomber, dispirited state
dejection · despondency · unhappiness · mournfulness · woefulness · forlornness · dismalness · heavyheartedness
State without hope
- futilityLack of purpose
- helplessnessLacking ability to cope
- pessimismExpecting unfavorable outcomes
- defeatismAcceptance of inevitable failure
resignation · nihilism · fatalism · disillusionment · discouragement · powerlessness · disheartenment · cynicism
Prolonged low state
- anhedoniaInability to feel enjoyment
- dysthymiaChronic low-grade melancholy
- apathyAbsence of feeling
- melancholiaProfound, enduring sorrow
therapy · antidepressants · psychiatry · psychology · mood disorder · listlessness · numbness · withdrawal
dreariness
State of dispiriting dullness
overcast · gloom · dimness · murkiness · darkness · dullness · starkness · barrenness · lifelessness · somberness
tedium
Wearisome dullness
monotony · repetitiveness · staleness · flatness · dreariness · sameness · uneventfulness · spiritlessness · languor · ennui
melancholy
Subdued, lasting sadness
- sadnessState of emotional pain
- sorrowDeep emotional distress
- joylessnessLack of delight
gloominess · dejection · despondency · unhappiness · mournfulness · woefulness · forlornness · dismalness · heavyheartedness · downheartedness
hopelessness
State without hope
- futilityLack of purpose
- helplessnessLacking ability to cope
- pessimismExpecting unfavorable outcomes
defeatism · resignation · nihilism · fatalism · disillusionment · discouragement · powerlessness · disheartenment · cynicism · surrender
depression
Prolonged low state
melancholia · therapy · antidepressants · psychiatry · psychology · mood disorder · listlessness · numbness · withdrawal · lethargy
- sadnesssad, unhappy, grief, sorrowful, heartbroken
- desolationbleakness, barrenness, emptiness, wasteland, desolation
- despairdespair, hopelessness, desolation, despondency, dejection
- humorlessnesshumorlessness, seriousness, deadpan, poker face, stone face
cheerlessnesscheerfulness
State of bright spirits
happiness · gladness · blitheness · merriment · joyfulness
cheerlessnesscheerfulness
State of bright spirits
warmth · cheer · coziness · brightness · festivity
cheer, cheerful, cheery, cheering, cheered, cheerless, cheerfulness, cheerlessly, uncheered