moody

adjective

ˈmü-dē 

moodier; moodiest

1

: subject to depression : gloomy

is often moody in the winter

2

: subject to moods : temperamental

moody teenagers

3

: expressive of a mood

a moody painting/ballad/film

moodily

ˈmü-də-lē 

adverb

moodiness

ˈmü-dē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of moody

• volatile
• impulsive
• changeful
• irritable
• unstable
• temperamental

Examples of moody in a Sentence

I don't know why I get so moody sometimes.

She's a moody woman—she can be happy one minute and angry the next.

The room's moody lighting suggested mystery and romance.

Recent Examples on the Web

The moody romanticism of the look was the perfect way to balance the night’s theme. — Shelby Comroe, InStyle, 25 July 2026

The lighting is somewhere between fantasy and noir, all moody shadows and otherworldly mists, precise and in no way naturalistic. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 24 July 2026

Travelers can explore mountain ranges, pristine fjords and dark, moody beaches. — Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 24 July 2026

The Odyssey tweaks Homer’s classic story into a moodier version of the swords-and-sandals epic—and represents a rare swerve away from tired sequels, cheap remakes, and creaky cinematic universes. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 23 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for moody

• broody
• buddhi
• judy

Kids Definition

moody

adjective

ˈmüd-ē 

moodier; moodiest

1

: frequently influenced by moods

especially : affected by changeable and gloomy moods or bad temper

2

: expressing a mood

a moody face

moodily

ˈmüd-ᵊl-ē 

adverb

moodiness

ˈmüd-ē-nəs 

noun

Biographical Definition

Moody

biographical name

Moo·​dy ˈmü-dē 

Dwight Lyman 1837–1899 American evangelist