Standard Lemma guide

cheerlessness

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

the state or characteristic of being cheerless

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: infestivity, joylessness, mirthlessness

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

a feeling of dreary or pessimistic sadness

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: uncheerfulness

Antonyms: cheerfulness

Broader terms: sadness, unhappiness

Narrower terms: joylessness

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English cheerless Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English cheerlessness From cheerless + -ness.

Across languages

Translations

1 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Manx: anghennallys — the state or characteristic of being cheerless