melancholia

noun

Definition of melancholianext
as in melancholy

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of melancholia The best thing to fight off early sunset melancholia is to try to get outside at dusk, even for a few minutes. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 5 Nov. 2025 It was used to treat melancholia and, of course, hangovers, presumably due to its high caffeine content. — Aleksandra Crapanzano, The Atlantic, 27 Oct. 2025 His story is sad and beautiful; as always, Only Murders cuts the melancholia with flashes of genuine warmth. — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2025 Their melancholia was the uncertainty inherent in a time of enormous change. — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 28 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for melancholia
Recent Examples of Synonyms for melancholia
  1. melancholy
  2. sadness
  3. self-pity
  4. unhappiness
  5. mournfulness
  6. gloominess
  7. dejection
  8. sorrow
Noun
  • Beneath all the sensuality and beauty, there’s also a lingering melancholy that feels very familiar to me.
    — Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 16 June 2026
  • Don Hertzfeldt occasionally comes to mind for a similarly pervasive mood of questioning, philosophical melancholy.
    — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 12 June 2026
Definition of melancholy
Noun
  • At the same time, 40% reported experiencing stress, 23% reported sadness, 22% anger and 22% loneliness.
    — Naira Velumyan, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Still, there are strains of deeper sadness and discomfort here, largely in the passive-aggressive tension between Kim’s character and her onscreen mother (superbly played by a new recuit, veteran TV star Choi Myeonggil).
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of sadness
Noun
  • Rather than being riled into playing at a higher level, Spain sunk into self-pity mode.
    — Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 18 July 2026
  • Every setback was met with more determination instead of self-pity.
    — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 June 2026
Definition of self-pity
Noun
  • The more pragmatic camp argues that maintaining unity during the war requires addressing the public's unhappiness over the economy as well as political and social repression.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026
  • There is more potential this month for unhappiness to reach you in this way.
    — Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 July 2026
Definition of unhappiness
Noun
  • Power Ballad should be breezy and fun, with that twist of mournfulness that Carney is always so adept at pulling off.
    — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 29 May 2026
Definition of mournfulness
Noun
  • Colors are accurate and saturated, doing justice to the bright vibrance of Frieren on Crunchyroll on my iPad Air and the dark gloominess of Ball x Pit on my Switch 2 via an adapter.
    — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 12 Mar. 2026
  • His gloominess seemed to make no sense.
    — Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 25 Oct. 2025
Definition of gloominess
Noun
  • In the end, Gizelle’s team triumphs, prompting more dejection from Vicki.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 17 Aug. 2026
  • This has been one of Norway’s great months and reaching the end of the line was as much cause for pride as dejection across the capital.
    — Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 12 July 2026
Definition of dejection
Noun
  • While firefighter Ed Glover appeared caught between rapture, and deep sorrow.
    — Anderson Cooper, CBS News, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Two people in New Orleans fall in love under an oak tree whose branches bend like sorrow.
    — Terry Gross, NPR, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of sorrow

Browse Nearby Words

meisters
melancholia
melancholic
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Melancholia.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/melancholia. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on melancholia

Nglish: Translation of melancholia for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about melancholia

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of tilde

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All