sunless

/'sʌnlis/

Thân thiện

The sky was sunless and gray all afternoon.

Definition

Adjective: 1. Lacking sunlight; dark or gloomy: Describes a place, time, or condition that is without sunshine, often implying a sense of dreariness or permanent shadow. 2. Figuratively, cheerless or dismal: Used to describe a situation, mood, or atmosphere that is bleak, depressing, or without hope or joy.

Usage and Examples

• Literal Meaning (Lacking Sunlight):

  • The explorers ventured into a deep, sunless cave.
  • For months, the Arctic region is sunless during the polar night.
  • The narrow alley was sunless even at midday.

• Figurative Meaning (Cheerless):

  • He fell into a sunless depression after the loss.
  • The report painted a sunless picture of the company's future.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "Sunless" vs. "Cloudy": While "cloudy" means covered with clouds and can be temporary, "sunless" often implies a more profound, pervasive, or permanent absence of light or cheer.
• Literary and Descriptive Use: Frequently used in literature and descriptive writing to establish a somber or ominous mood.
  • The novel is set in the sunless, industrial city of his childhood.

Variants and Related Words

• Sunlessness (noun): The state or quality of being without sun; gloom.
  • The perpetual sunlessness of the dungeon was unbearable.

Synonyms

• Dark: Having little or no light.
• Gloomy: Dark or poorly lit, especially in a way that is depressing.
• Dreary: Dull, bleak, and lifeless; depressing.
• Shadowy: Full of shadows; dark and obscure.

Antonyms

• Sunny: Bright with sunlight.
• Bright: Giving out or reflecting much light.
• Radiant: Sending out light; shining or glowing brightly.

Idioms and Fixed Phrases

• While "sunless" itself is not commonly part of idioms, it is used in evocative phrases:
  • a sunless existence
  • the sunless depths

Học thuật

Adjective

1. filled or abounding with clouds

Từ đồng nghĩa

• cloud-covered
• clouded
• overcast