melancholia

noun

Definition of melancholianext
as in melancholy

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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
  • On the one hand, there’s a fascination with collective joy and the forms of vernacular invention that aspire to it; on the other, there’s an underlying melancholy that points to the inevitability of isolation, an epistemology of loneliness.
    — Pablo Larios, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of melancholy
Noun
  • Despite being steeped in the sadness and frustration of the working class, Lee’s drama uses its film-within-a-film construct to refract the moral valences of labor through the prism of what people actually earn through their work.
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2026
  • This one, however, finds the director in a mood to confront the inevitable changes and march of time, its joys and sadness in the lives of ordinary people going about living it.
    — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 4 Sep. 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 post and later comments arrived two months before the midterm elections, where Americans’ unhappiness with persistent high inflation has been a dominant theme.
    — Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Allen is among several NFL players who have expressed unhappiness with artificial turf.
    — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 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
  • Miller’s hands dropped quickly to his side in frustrated dejection.
    — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • In the end, Gizelle’s team triumphs, prompting more dejection from Vicki.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of dejection
Noun
  • Kenyan President William Ruto expressed sorrow on behalf of his government and people.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026
  • But as hours stretched into days with no word from them, his hope turned to sorrow.
    — Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of sorrow

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Cite this Entry

“Melancholia.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/melancholia. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on melancholia

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about melancholia

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