Nearby Words

glum

[gluhm] Example Sentences Origin

glum

[gluhm]
adjective, glum·mer, glum·mest.
sullenly or silently gloomy; dejected.

Origin:
1425–75; late Middle English; variant of gloom

glum·ly, adverb
glum·ness, noun


moody, sulky; despondent, melancholy. Glum, morose, sullen, dour, surly all are adjectives describing a gloomy, unsociable attitude. Glum describes a depressed, spiritless condition or manner, usually temporary rather than habitual: a glum shrug of the shoulders; a glum, hopeless look in his eye. Morose, which adds to glum a sense of bitterness, implies a habitual and pervasive gloominess: a sour, morose manner; morose withdrawal from human contact. Sullen usually implies reluctance or refusal to speak accompanied by glowering looks expressing anger or a sense of injury: a sullen manner, silence, look. Dour refers to a stern and forbidding aspect, stony and unresponsive: dour rejection of friendly overtures. Surly implies gruffness of speech and manner, usually accompanied by an air of injury and ill temper: a surly reply.

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Glum is always a great word to know.
So is flibbertigibbet. Does it mean:
a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
Example Sentences
  • But many economists remain worried that momentum could soon weaken, with the economy sliding back into glum times.
  • It also contrasts well with the rather glum picture painted by the banks' main lobbying body in this report.
  • He turned to look at the five witnesses and was dismayed to see the glum expressions on the faces of the stoic islanders.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
glum (ɡlʌm)
 
adj , glummer, glummest
silent or sullen, as from gloom
 
[C16: variant of gloom]
 
'glumly
 
adv
 
'glumness
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

glum
1540s, from M.E. gloumen (v.) "become dark" (c.1300), later gloumben "look gloomy or sullen" (late 14c.); see gloom.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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