When someone is joyless, they are lacking in happiness and cheer. There are several synonyms that can be used to express this feeling, including gloomy, morose, somber, and melancholy. All of these words convey a sense of sadness or lack of joy. Other synonyms for joyless include dispirited, dejected, depressed, and despondent. These words all describe a feeling of being down or defeated. When describing a person or situation that is joyless, it is important to choose the right word to convey the specific emotions that are being felt. Each of these synonyms brings its own nuances and shades of meaning that can help to more accurately describe the feeling or situation at hand.