as in sad
feeling unhappiness
she becomes quite melancholic when she reflects on all the lost opportunities of her life
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 melancholic
By the fifth song, the album turns melancholic.
—
Bryan West, USA Today, 19 Feb. 2026
There’s a wry grace to this misadventure-palooza, forged in the key of melancholic mid-career Woody Allen but with variations on those themes which achieve their own pointedly funny clarity, especially where Ubeimar Rios’ all-time portrayal of a sad sack is concerned.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
One such recording, a melancholic tune sung by an old woman about the end of times, plays as footage of Iceland from a hundred years ago fills the screen.
—Marya E. Gates, IndieWire, 27 Jan. 2026
At the Ray Theater, a melancholic Apatow reflected on saying goodbye to Utah.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for melancholic
Bryan West, USA Today, 19 Feb. 2026
There’s a wry grace to this misadventure-palooza, forged in the key of melancholic mid-career Woody Allen but with variations on those themes which achieve their own pointedly funny clarity, especially where Ubeimar Rios’ all-time portrayal of a sad sack is concerned.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
One such recording, a melancholic tune sung by an old woman about the end of times, plays as footage of Iceland from a hundred years ago fills the screen.
—Marya E. Gates, IndieWire, 27 Jan. 2026
At the Ray Theater, a melancholic Apatow reflected on saying goodbye to Utah.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for melancholic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for melancholic
Adjective
-
There will be keggers, hook-ups, late nights and early mornings, all without shading Greg as a sad old man trying to turn back time.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
5 Mar. 2026
-
But none of them can say this, none of them can let their feelings be known, and, instead of a triangle, what ends up happening is three sad lines fallen in on each other, lying in a pile, waiting for someone to come along and prop them back up into a shape.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
El Teniente's general manager, Claudio Sougarret, recently said production will be depressed for the next five years as a result of the accident.—
Sawdah Bhaimiya,
CNBC,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Minnelli writes that Garland would remain in bed for days, depressed and heavily drugged.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
MacFarlane is also said to have faced personal threats from MAGA supporters unhappy with his coverage of the Justice Department.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Earlier this season, Marchment struggled mightily — and seemed plenty unhappy — with the Seattle Kraken, but his trade to the Blue Jackets in late December revitalized his season.—
Harman Dayal,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Inside, the ornately elegant venue may have seemed like an unlikely setting for Junior H’s melancholy corridos tumbados.—
Isabela Raygoza,
Billboard,
5 Mar. 2026
-
In my experience, sadness and melancholy exist side by side with happiness and joy.—
Cressida Leyshon,
New Yorker,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
His family and friends are utterly heartbroken.—
Mike Hellgren,
CBS News,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Like Sebek, Lincoln-Way co-op senior Zoe Dempsey was heartbroken not to win state in her final attempt.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Alex Caruso relishes making Jokic miserable.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Weegar has had a tough season, with his impact in basically every situation falling off during what’s been a miserable year all around in Calgary.—
Shayna Goldman,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
His villains were flamboyant, but Bruce was mournful, reluctant — no onscreen superhero has more palpably wrestled with not wanting to be a superhero.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Such memories flowed freely this week on social media and in mournful first-person essays.—
Dan Adler,
Vanity Fair,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The Knicks were held to less than 100 points for only the seventh time and had their fourth-worst three-point shooting performance of the season, going eight for 34.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The Pacers have the second-worst record in the NBA, 1 ½ games better than Sacramento.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Melancholic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/melancholic. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
