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bleakness

bleakness

3 6.3
A cold, empty feeling that makes a place or situation seem sad
  • noun
  • /ˈbliknəs/
translation icon : desolación
  • The wind howled off the lake, a haunting reminder of the bleakness that had become his life.

Really what I think is I've finally gotten used to the bleakness of the world.

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Examples

  • After spending five years in prison, she returned to the bleakness of the reservation.

  • The Harvard Film Archive series on Ford contends that the film exactingly portrays the bleakness and despair that goes along with defeat, while emphasizing the honor and courage of ordinary men.

    Academic text (2014)
  • For me, I only turn to them when the bleakness of existence seems overwhelming.

    Blog text (26)
  • Really what I think is I've finally gotten used to the bleakness of the world.

  • Fortunately, the record of the year is not one of unrelieved bleakness.

    Academic text (2017)
  • I was amazed by the emptiness in front of the theater and the bleakness of the lobby.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • After a while, the bleakness of the count's life is alleviated by occasional little rays of light.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • The very bleakness of the would-be park exercised a bizarre pull on me.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • The sight of so much lush greenery seems unreal after the bleakness of the high desert.

    Academic text (1995)
  • The snow was swirling thickly, and there was a bleakness in the subdued light.

Synonyms

gloom
vsbleakness
46 3.2

A feeling of sadness and low spirits

leans more toward cold emptiness than pure sadness
desolation
vsbleakness
11 7.7

An area left empty and ruined after a disaster

is an atmospheric cold emptiness rather than actual ruin
darkness
vsbleakness
11 1.0

A deep, strong color often used in cloth or paint

adds chill and emptiness beyond mere lack of light
pall
vsbleakness
8 8.0

A sad heavy feeling that hangs over a place

is an empty cold atmosphere rather than just heavy mood
grimness
vsbleakness
2 6.7

A harsh, unpleasant quality that makes people feel afraid or worried

is more about cold emptiness than severe frightening harshness
nakedness
vsbleakness
1 5.6

An empty landscape with few plants or buildings

is more about cold empty feeling than mere plainness
soullessness
vsbleakness
1 7.7

A feeling of cold emptiness and lack of human warmth

is an atmosphere of emptiness and cold, not complete absence of feeling
deadness
vsbleakness
1 5.3

A state of no life or energy that makes a person feel empty

is more about a chilling empty atmosphere rather than only dullness
dreariness
vsbleakness
1 6.2

A dull, gloomy feeling that makes things seem not interesting

is colder and emptier, not only dull or uninteresting
lifelessness
vsbleakness
1 5.4

A lack of life, energy, or movement

is more about cold empty atmosphere than mere inactivity
drabness
vsbleakness
1 5.1

A plain, dull appearance with no bright color or style

adds cold emptiness and sadness beyond mere dull look
gloominess
vsbleakness
1 3.4

A feeling of sadness and little hope felt by people or in a place

is colder and emptier, not only sadness or low mood
bareness
vsbleakness
1 5.1

A plain, empty look with no decorations

is colder and lonelier in emotional tone beyond plainness
barrenness
vsbleakness
1 8.1

A situation when nothing useful can be produced

is about a cold empty mood or scene, not fertility or yield
wintriness
vsbleakness
7.4

A cold, grey feeling like winter in weather or mood

is broader and not limited to seasonal cold or weather
desolateness
vsbleakness
7.5

A feeling of being very lonely and empty after loss

is mainly about cold empty atmosphere, not only loneliness
cheerlessness
vsbleakness
6.5

A feeling of sadness and no hope

is colder and emptier, not just absence of cheer
somberness
vsbleakness
  • US
6.5

A state of dim light when a place looks dark and shadowy

is about cold empty atmosphere rather than darkness or lighting
sunlessness
vsbleakness
6.3

No sunlight that makes a place feel dark and sad

is a general cold empty feeling, not only lack of sun

Antonyms

41 1.0

How much light something gives or how close it looks to white

16 4.6

Ability of a living thing to survive and grow

How Bleak

desolation
3 7.6
barrenness
1 8.1
bleakness
3 6.3
bareness
1 5.1
sparseness
1 6.8

Surface Forms

bleakness singular
bleaknesses plural

Morphology

bleakness = bleak (transparent) = bleak + ness

Formed by a standard nominalization (-ness) from the adjective 'bleak', giving the abstract quality or state of being bleak.

Etymology

The word bleakness comes from an old Norse word bleikr, which meant 'pale' or 'shining', and you can see the same idea in bleach, which makes things pale. So bleakness describes a cold, empty, or lifeless feeling or place, like a pale, empty field with no colour or warmth.