variants
also elegiacal
as in depressing
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer
the sight of an old ruined church or castle can be a pleasantly elegiac experience
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of elegiac
Colin Fleming, New York Daily News, 14 Feb. 2025
The exhibit’s name and its graphic treatment are themselves an elegiac ode to Heaven, the avant-garde novelty boutique at the Century City Mall that held serious sway in the ’80s with the likes of Brooke Shields, Paul Reubens and Freddie Mercury.
—Gary Baum, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Feb. 2025
Out went the names, and in came a sweeping, elegiac — but life-fostering — quality that operates as a sonic treatise on the nature of love itself.
—Colin Fleming, New York Daily News, 14 Feb. 2025
Considering recent, breakneck attempts to gut civil rights, director Brittany Shyne’s debut feature — which won the U.S. documentary prize at the Sundance Film Festival — feels elegiac.
—Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 1 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elegiac
Adjective
The elegiac sweep involves the clearing away of detritus.
—Colin Fleming, New York Daily News, 14 Feb. 2025
The exhibit’s name and its graphic treatment are themselves an elegiac ode to Heaven, the avant-garde novelty boutique at the Century City Mall that held serious sway in the ’80s with the likes of Brooke Shields, Paul Reubens and Freddie Mercury.
—Gary Baum, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Feb. 2025
Out went the names, and in came a sweeping, elegiac — but life-fostering — quality that operates as a sonic treatise on the nature of love itself.
—Colin Fleming, New York Daily News, 14 Feb. 2025
Considering recent, breakneck attempts to gut civil rights, director Brittany Shyne’s debut feature — which won the U.S. documentary prize at the Sundance Film Festival — feels elegiac.
—Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 1 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elegiac
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elegiac
Adjective
-
Instead, Chernow devotes a hefty portion of his 1,039 pages (excluding notes) to Twain’s personal tribulations, a depressing series of bungles and calamities starting in the author’s middle age.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
9 May 2025
-
The lack of business on Sunday and Monday nights could be especially depressing.—
Stephanie Breijo,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2025
Adjective
-
Weaker but still significant effects were observed in those without depressive symptoms.—
Paul McClure
May 14,
New Atlas,
14 May 2025
-
This makes sense because a recent study found that 59% of yoga participants had reduced depressive symptoms after practicing heated yoga weekly for just 8 weeks.—
Dominique Fluker,
Essence,
9 May 2025
Noun
-
It’s remained in the company’s repertoire for decades, and the use of Coltrane’s elegy for the love of her life has made that music into two dirges, one for husband John Coltrane and another for the woman on the invisible mourner’s bench honoring and channeling him for the rest of her days.—
Harmony Holiday,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2025
-
Lucas’s final film is a kind of elegy for an entire style of personal blockbuster filmmaking, Williams’ funeral music in the last moments fitting for the director’s last moments behind the camera.—
Christian Blauvelt,
IndieWire,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Certainly many people will come — or watch at home — out of morbid curiosity.—
Jocelyn Noveck,
Boston Herald,
9 May 2025
-
Yet the morbid final phase of Twain’s writing, though always less popular (in part because much of it was unpublished during his life), is to my taste still sublime.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
9 May 2025
Noun
-
This eatery at the summit of Cannon’s tramway offers cafeteria food, grab-and-go options, and, most notably, the highest-elevation beer taps in the state of New Hampshire.—
Sarah Cahalan,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Dec. 2024
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This lack of resolution taps into the brain’s natural drive for cognitive closure, which according to 2014 study, is the innate desire to resolve ambiguity and make sense of unfinished experiences.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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But when the movie started, the mood turned funereal.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2025
-
The former president was seen taking a photo with another mourner; his wife, like first lady Melania Trump — in attendance with President Trump — wore a funereal veil.—
Adam Carlson,
People.com,
26 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
It’s remained in the company’s repertoire for decades, and the use of Coltrane’s elegy for the love of her life has made that music into two dirges, one for husband John Coltrane and another for the woman on the invisible mourner’s bench honoring and channeling him for the rest of her days.—
Harmony Holiday,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2025
-
Over time, dirge came to mean a funeral song or lament.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Though their everyday hangouts are chill, Beckham loves to roll out the red carpet for Milo on special occasions.—
Michelle Lee,
People.com,
13 May 2025
-
And then obviously in between that, either dropping my kid off at school or picking my kid up or hanging out, going to the park or something like that in some of those gaps, but that’s a very happy day, very chill, humbling day (Laughs).—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Elegiac.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elegiac. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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