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
Both drinks start with gin, but while the Negroni uses Campari’s bright bitter orange for its trademark bitterness, the Remember the Alimony uses the broodier Cynar, similarly bitter but at a lower and more vegetal hum, flavored with, among other things, artichokes.
—
Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 4 Oct. 2025
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
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
Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 4 Oct. 2025
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broody
Adjective
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Their sound was more sweet and melancholy.—
David Hill,
Rolling Stone,
15 Oct. 2025
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The manager who is so often the picture of calm had reddened eyes, a hint of melancholy in his voice.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The beautiful work Ashley did as Tunde was thoughtful and honest.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Architectural kitten heels and mid wedges were everywhere, from The Row and Alaïa to Neous, each striking that perfect balance between thoughtful design and true wearability.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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All colors change under different lights, but white is one of the biggest offenders due to its highly reflective quality.—
Sophie Flaxman,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Oct. 2025
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First, on darker mornings and evenings, be bright and be seen—reflective gear and a small light go a long way.—
Belal Aftab,
Mercury News,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Stephen depicts the women’s schooltime bond in hypnotic flashbacks, and their separation largely through absence itself, with gliding, pensive shots of places—rooms, buildings, streets—where the women have been and may be again but which, onscreen, are vacant.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
2 Oct. 2025
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Cain’s pensive, artfully antiquated production (mostly helmed by Ka himself) colors between the lines of his thesis: No amount of institutional strife, familial grief, or white guilt should ever knock you off your pivot.—
Pitchfork,
Pitchfork,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Kirk's expression in the painting is serious and contemplative, and Ryan incorporated prominent reds, blacks, whites and blues, evoking patriotic themes.—
Andrea Margolis , Lorraine Taylor,
FOXNews.com,
14 Oct. 2025
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This emptying-out trajectory may be familiar to anyone who's read accounts of contemplative mystical experiences.—
Jim Higgins,
jsonline.com,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Broody.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broody. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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