melancholy

play

noun mel·an·choly \ ˈme-lən-ˌkä-lē \

Definition of melancholy

plural melancholies

1 a :an abnormal state attributed to an excess of black bile and characterized by irascibility or depression

b :black bile

c :melancholia

2 a :depression of spirits :dejection

great outbursts of creativity alternate with feelings of extreme melancholy
—Brenda Lane Richardson

b :a pensive mood

a fine romantic kind of a melancholy on the fading of the year
—Richard Holmes

See melancholy defined for English-language learners

See melancholy defined for kids

Examples of melancholy in a Sentence

the bleakness of winter sometimes gives me cause for melancholy

Recent Examples of melancholy from the Web

For them, the arrival of migrants signals their exit from history, and the popular argument that an aging Europe needs migrants only strengthens the growing sense of existential melancholy.

— yascha mounk, New Republic, "What the rise of populist movements means for democracy.," 19 July 2017
Just a few years ago, CYN was a teenager growing up in the suburbs of Detroit, jotting lyrics in notebooks and escaping the melancholy of middle America through music.

— sadie bell, Billboard, "CYN, Katy Perry's Latest Label Signee, Wants to Make Sincere Pop Music For You," 14 July 2017
The termination provided an immediate emotional lift: Gone was the fearsome melancholy.

— leslie kendall dye, SELF, "My Gynecologist Wouldn’t Give Me an Elective Abortion—So I Broke Up With Her," 20 June 2017
But here, despite a vein of Ayckbourn-esque melancholy and a nod toward state-of-the-nation seriousness, Mr. Betts and the director, Stephen Darcy, keep surging past naturalism toward strident farce, then stumbling into tragedy.

— alexis soloski, New York Times, "Review: ‘Invincible’ Brings Class and Conflict to the Party," 18 June 2017
Liverpool has been through tough times since The Beatles split in 1970, and the festival includes notes of melancholy amid the celebration.

— jill lawless, chicagotribune.com, "Liverpool celebrates 50th birthday of 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'," 5 June 2017
Liverpool has been through tough times since The Beatles split in 1970, and the festival includes notes of melancholy amid the celebration.

— jill lawless, The Seattle Times, "Liverpool fetes ‘Sgt. Pepper’ with help from its friends," 2 June 2017
Liverpool has been through tough times since The Beatles split in 1970, and the festival includes notes of melancholy amid the celebration.

— Washington Post, "Liverpool fetes ‘Sgt. Pepper’ with help from its friends," 2 June 2017
The excitement that had hung in the air was replaced by a fuzzy melancholy, and sadness for something lost.

— Redbook, "The Shadow Side of Motherhood," 30 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'melancholy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of melancholy

Middle English malencolie, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin melancholia, from Greek, from melan- + cholē bile — more at gall

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

melancholy Synonyms

Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

melancholy

play

adjective mel·an·choly \ ˈme-lən-ˌkä-lē \

Definition of melancholy

1 a :suggestive or expressive of sadness or depression of mind or spirit

sang in a melancholy voice

b :causing or tending to cause sadness or depression of mind or spirit :dismal

a melancholy thought

2 a :depressed in spirits :dejected, sad

b :pensive

See melancholy defined for English-language learners

Examples of melancholy in a Sentence

A melancholy lesson of advancing years is the realization that you can't make old friends. —Christopher Hitchens, Harper's, June 1999
He has a snarled mop of spiky black hair, melancholy circles around his eyes, and a tiny Cupid's-bow mouth. —Pauline Kael, New Yorker, 17 Dec. 1990
I see your mournful party in my mind's eye under every varying circumstance of the day; … the efforts to talk, the frequent summons to melancholy orders and cares, and poor Edward, restless in misery, going from one room to the other … —Jane Austen, letter, 24 Oct. 1808
She was in a melancholy mood.
He became quiet and melancholy as the hours slowly passed.

Recent Examples of melancholy from the Web

The melancholy fact of the matter is that CTE can only be confirmed in an autopsy.

— tim sullivan, The Courier-Journal, "Accepting risk is part of football's bargain | Tim Sullivan," 8 Aug. 2017
This is a town that has seen better days; there's a melancholy quality to the city portrait.

— ben sachs, Chicago Reader, "Film / Paranormal / RIP RIP George A. Romero, whose Martin remains a masterpiece of independent filmmaking," 28 July 2017
The initial third of the novel drips with melancholy and nostalgia, but not much action.

— atlanta life, ajc, "A fraught and ferocious debut," 21 July 2017
Fortunately, Brooks came to his senses and stuck with the more melancholy ending the movie's fans all know and love.

— douglas perry, OregonLive.com, "Holly Hunter classic 'Broadcast News' is 30 and better than ever, earns hat tip from Netflix hit 'GLOW'," 12 July 2017
There are as many versions of Shakespeare’s melancholy Dane as there are players.

— tirdad derakhshani, Philly.com, "Hamlet in hysterics: REV Theatre Company disappoints at Laurel Hill Cemetery," 9 July 2017
The surprise is how in tune this high-energy sequel turns out to be, advancing their desperately sad story into melancholy middle age.

— chris ball, cleveland.com, "'T2 Trainspotting,' now on DVD and Blu-ray (review)," 4 July 2017
The melancholy binge-eat became a huge talker at Sundance Film Festival in January, where Ghost Story premiered to rapturous reviews.

— patrick ryan, USA TODAY, "You'll never look at pie the same after Rooney Mara's 'Ghost Story' scene," 4 July 2017
The film has no original score to punch up its comedic overtones either, instead relying on existing music choices that are often tinged with melancholy, from Saint-Saëns’ morbidly named Danse macabre to the songs of fado superstar Amelia Rodrigues.

— boyd van hoeij, The Hollywood Reporter, "'50 is the New 30' ('Marie-Francine'): Film Review," 1 July 2017

Origin and Etymology of melancholy

see ¹melancholy

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

melancholy Synonyms

Synonyms

depressing, dismal, drear, dreary, heartbreaking, heartrending, sad, mournful, pathetic, saddening, sorry, tearful, teary

Antonyms

cheering, cheery, glad, happy

Related Words

deplorable, distressful, grievous, lamentable, unfortunate, woeful; discomforting, discomposing, disquieting, distressing, disturbing, perturbing; affecting, moving, poignant, touching; discouraging, disheartening, dispiriting

Near Antonyms

heartening, heartwarming, inspiring, stimulating, stirring, uplifting; agreeable, delightful, enjoyable, pleasant, pleasing, pleasurable, satisfying, welcome; exhilarating, thrilling

Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

MELANCHOLY Defined for English Language Learners

melancholy

play

noun

Definition of melancholy for English Language Learners

: a sad mood or feeling

melancholy

play

adjective

Definition of melancholy for English Language Learners

: feeling or showing sadness : very unhappy

MELANCHOLY Defined for Kids

melancholy

play

adjective mel·an·choly \ ˈme-lən-ˌkä-lē \

Definition of melancholy for Students

:sad 1

I'll be melancholy if you go.

melancholy

noun

Definition of melancholy for Students

:a sad or gloomy mood

Medical Dictionary

melancholy

play

noun mel·an·choly \ ˈmel-ən-ˌkäl-ē \

medical Definition of melancholy

plural melancholies

1 a :an abnormal state attributed to an excess of black bile and characterized by irascibility or depression

b :black bile

c :melancholia

2 :depression or dejection of spirits

—

melancholy

adjective

Learn More about melancholy

See words that rhyme with melancholy Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for melancholy Spanish Central: Translation of melancholy Nglish: Translation of melancholy for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of melancholy for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up melancholy? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

melancholy

Definition of melancholy

Explore M-W

Examples of melancholy in a Sentence

Recent Examples of melancholy from the Web

Origin and Etymology of melancholy

melancholy Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Other Psychology Terms

melancholy

Definition of melancholy

Examples of melancholy in a Sentence

Recent Examples of melancholy from the Web

Origin and Etymology of melancholy

melancholy Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Other Psychology Terms

MELANCHOLY Defined for English Language Learners

melancholy

Definition of melancholy for English Language Learners

melancholy

Definition of melancholy for English Language Learners

MELANCHOLY Defined for Kids

melancholy

Definition of melancholy for Students

melancholy

Definition of melancholy for Students

Medical Dictionary

melancholy

medical Definition of melancholy

melancholy

Learn More about melancholy

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Breathing Life Into 'Inspire'

Trending: Kim Jong Un: Trump a 'Dotard'

These Are Fighting Words

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

Words of the Year: 1066