as in melancholy
given to or marked by long, quiet thinking
he spent a long, broody weekend trying to figure out where his relationship with his girlfriend was headed
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Recent Examples of broody
One notable absence from the sophomore season of Alfred Gough and Miles Millar’s Wednesday is that of broody artist Xavier Thorpe (Percy Hynes White), who played a significant love interest for Jenna Ortega’s titular main character in Season 1.
—
Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 8 Aug. 2025
The result was a mash-up of Ralph Lauren signatures that felt broodier, a little more bohemian, and, in that, perhaps a touch more eclectic.
—Nick Remsen, CNN Money, 18 Apr. 2025
Misfit is a patchouli-amber number that feels broodier and sophisticated, yet manages to wear light enough year-round.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 17 Aug. 2023
Prosecco, perfect in an Aperol Spritz, just adds too much enthusiasm to what is a broodier drink.
—Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 11 Mar. 2023
And she's torn between two love interests, a pair of basically interchangeable broody white boys, à la Felicity.
—A.a. Dowd, Chron, 21 Nov. 2022
Lautner starred as Jacob in all four movies alongside Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, who played Bella Swan and her broody vampire boyfriend Edward Cullen, respectively.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 27 Aug. 2022
One of the latest YA entries, Netflix's adaptation of Sarah Dessen's Along for the Ride, centers a food fight at a summer BBQ as a key part of Auden's (Emma Pasarow) coming-of-age and her central romance with broody BMX biker, Eli (Belmont Camelli).
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 15 June 2022
In his English-language debut, Carax centres on Henry (Driver), a broody stand-up comedian, and Ann (Cotillard), a world-famous opera singer, who fall in love and have a daughter named Annette.
—Natalie Morin, refinery29.com, 20 Apr. 2021
Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 8 Aug. 2025
The result was a mash-up of Ralph Lauren signatures that felt broodier, a little more bohemian, and, in that, perhaps a touch more eclectic.
—Nick Remsen, CNN Money, 18 Apr. 2025
Misfit is a patchouli-amber number that feels broodier and sophisticated, yet manages to wear light enough year-round.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 17 Aug. 2023
Prosecco, perfect in an Aperol Spritz, just adds too much enthusiasm to what is a broodier drink.
—Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 11 Mar. 2023
And she's torn between two love interests, a pair of basically interchangeable broody white boys, à la Felicity.
—A.a. Dowd, Chron, 21 Nov. 2022
Lautner starred as Jacob in all four movies alongside Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, who played Bella Swan and her broody vampire boyfriend Edward Cullen, respectively.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 27 Aug. 2022
One of the latest YA entries, Netflix's adaptation of Sarah Dessen's Along for the Ride, centers a food fight at a summer BBQ as a key part of Auden's (Emma Pasarow) coming-of-age and her central romance with broody BMX biker, Eli (Belmont Camelli).
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 15 June 2022
In his English-language debut, Carax centres on Henry (Driver), a broody stand-up comedian, and Ann (Cotillard), a world-famous opera singer, who fall in love and have a daughter named Annette.
—Natalie Morin, refinery29.com, 20 Apr. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broody
Adjective
-
Some gags land, others don’t, and the script’s sudden bursts of melancholy dependably catch you in the gut.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
9 Sep. 2025
-
The same can be said of Mescal, who’s already parlayed playing men of muscular physique and melancholy dispositions into above-the-title movie stardom.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
An amicable run-in with his ex-wife in this episode has the same thoughtful feeling.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Her solution is to be thoughtful and focused on the right risks and opportunities.—
Jack McCullough,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The only difference is that reflective tint is not allowed anywhere on the windshield and can't be more than 35% on the front and rear windows.—
Keenan Thompson,
Freep.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Give that remark a sobering, reflective moment.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The video begins with Grint's pensive walk home from prison after serving time for stalking, and images of Sheeran flood his memory and sight.—
Rachel Raposas,
People.com,
11 Aug. 2025
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Her pensive, probing Symphony in C-Sharp Minor had never been performed until the conductor Debora Waldman took it up and recorded it for Bru Zane.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Her hobbies include lusting after them, dating them, hanging out at their beach house, contemplative night-swimming in their pool, and occasionally playing volleyball.—
Vogue,
Vogue,
11 Sep. 2025
-
To retrain focus, Bovee also suggested distraction-free spaces, analog activities like journaling or reading print books, and contemplative practices like meditation.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Broody.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broody. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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