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
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
It's filled with hilarious banter, quirky community, and a romantic connection between an exuberant lawyer and a broody ex-Marine that is both incredibly sweet and scorching hot.
—Alamin Yohannes, EW.com, 12 Feb. 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
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
It's filled with hilarious banter, quirky community, and a romantic connection between an exuberant lawyer and a broody ex-Marine that is both incredibly sweet and scorching hot.
—Alamin Yohannes, EW.com, 12 Feb. 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
-
But the overriding feeling of the work is melancholy.—
Hugh Morris,
New York Times,
25 July 2025
-
Anna, an American student at Harvard, falls deeply and unaccountably in love with Christoph, who is on exchange from Germany, in this melancholy début novel.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
21 July 2025
Adjective
-
These aren’t edge cases but increasingly common scenarios requiring thoughtful, human-centric design.—
Anuradha Gupta,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
-
An artistic 14-year-old boy known for his thoughtful nature drowned just weeks before starting high school, Michigan officials say.—
Mike Stunson,
Kansas City Star,
6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Kirilenko described her holding cell inside 26 Federal Plaza as a cold, cement room where women slept on benches or the floor, with just reflective blankets to keep them warm.—
Emma Seiwell,
New York Daily News,
9 Aug. 2025
-
But behind the scenes, producers say the making of Chaotic was reflective of its title, mostly because the network, UPN, had purchased all of Spears’s footage unseen and then looked to producers to craft a multi-episode series.—
Krystie Lee Yandoli,
Glamour,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
If the position happens to be software programmer, then your quieter, more focused, pensive side needs to come through.—
Phil Blair,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 July 2025
Adjective
-
Then there's the Parker's Heritage Reserve Stout, perhaps the most nuanced and contemplative beer in the lineup.—
Hudson Lindenberger,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
-
Parts of The Scout, in its contemplative tone and observational style, reminded me of Perfect Days.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
HollywoodReporter,
14 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Broody.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broody. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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