brooding

adjective

brood·​ing ˈbrü-diŋ How to pronounce brooding (audio)
1
: moodily or sullenly thoughtful or serious
a brooding genius
a brooding, embittered man
2
: darkly somber
a brooding landscape
a quiet, brooding atmosphere
brooding, violent images reminiscent of … film noir …Tracy Hopkins
broodingly adverb
a broodingly handsome actor
Gardner gazes broodingly at the camera … Kathleen Murphy

Examples of brooding in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
According to astrologer Kyle Thomas, Scorpios are stereotyped to be more dark and brooding than the other signs in the zodiac since they are ruled by Mars — the planet of aggression — and Pluto — the planet of the underworld. Andrea Wurzburger, People.com, 23 Oct. 2024 Consider that your audience might be seeking something a little lighter right now — less brooding nihilism, more talking birds. Remy Blumenfeld, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Oct. 2024 He had really been put through the wringer, was very brooding, and needed to go find himself. Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 14 Oct. 2024 Assuming a brooding posture, a female wore her eggs in clusters (like a handbag) or even individually, moving them from one arm to the other as required. Scott Travers, Forbes, 13 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for brooding 

Word History

First Known Use

1818, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of brooding was in 1818

Dictionary Entries Near brooding

Cite this Entry

“Brooding.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brooding. Accessed 11 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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