What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
gloomy
Example
The sky was gloomy and overcast, threatening rain. [gloomy: adjective]
Example
She felt gloomy and downhearted after receiving the bad news. [gloomy: adjective]
Example
The company's financial forecast looks gloomy for the next quarter. [gloomy: adjective]
melancholy
Example
He listened to the melancholy music and felt a wave of sadness wash over him. [melancholy: adjective]
Example
She had a melancholy expression on her face as she gazed out the window. [melancholy: adjective]
Example
The abandoned house had a melancholy air about it, reminding him of his childhood home. [melancholy: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Gloomy is more commonly used than melancholy in everyday language. Gloomy is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while melancholy is less common and has a more specific usage.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between gloomy and melancholy?
Both gloomy and melancholy are associated with a formal or literary tone, but melancholy is often used in a more poetic or artistic context, while gloomy is used in a more straightforward or practical context.
