1
as in sad
causing unhappiness
the melancholy thought of having to say good-bye to all the friends he had made over the summer
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2
as in depressed
feeling unhappiness
they were a bit melancholy after their youngest child left for college
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3
as in thoughtful
given to or marked by long, quiet thinking
a melancholy period in the artist's life that is reflected in his work
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as in sadness
a state or spell of low spirits
the bleakness of winter sometimes gives me cause for melancholy
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of melancholy
Jack Lang, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
But about two-thirds of the way through, Roofman makes a quiet, almost imperceptible shift toward melancholy.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 10 Oct. 2025
Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 10 Oct. 2025
The pop icon’s 12th album, released at midnight on Friday, is being hailed for the singer’s return to upbeat pop following last year’s melancholy The Tortured Poets Department, with Swift reuniting with Swedish hitmaker producers Max Martin and Shellback.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for melancholy
Adjective
First, though, as Shampoo sinks into one of his barber chairs, there is melancholy.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
But about two-thirds of the way through, Roofman makes a quiet, almost imperceptible shift toward melancholy.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
Unfortunately, that launches Brian right back into his melancholy.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 10 Oct. 2025
The pop icon’s 12th album, released at midnight on Friday, is being hailed for the singer’s return to upbeat pop following last year’s melancholy The Tortured Poets Department, with Swift reuniting with Swedish hitmaker producers Max Martin and Shellback.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for melancholy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for melancholy
Adjective
-
As Morgan and Sasha chat it up at Noah’s family’s Purim party, a sad-eyed Esther stands off to the side, quietly watching the interaction.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
24 Oct. 2025
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The footage shows Deiseroth’s demeanor teetering between sad and angry.—
David Goodhue
October 24,
Miami Herald,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Developers are taking an extended break from a slumping San Diego area office market beset by empty space, depressed demand and high construction costs.—
Jennifer Van Grove,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Real wages remain depressed and economic growth has stalled.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The guest experience is elevated by thoughtful details such as sunset happy hours and chocolate carts.—
Taylor McIntyre,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Nov. 2025
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But some more thoughtful objections — see journalist Van Lathan’s October appearance on The Ringer podcast The Big Picture — take issue with the ways in which Perfidia is sexualized by two white men, DiCaprio and Sean Penn’s characters, the latter a neo-Nazi.—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Followers and fans of Tika online expressed their sadness in the comment section.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
5 Nov. 2025
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And in the last days of August, laughter and pot would waft over the scene, happiness laced with sadness.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Soon, the entire room was awash with clippings, each detailing a different duplicitous scheme — a depressing reflection of how scam culture was taking over my country, eroding our trust in each other.—
Snigdha Poonam,
The Dial,
28 Oct. 2025
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Welcome to the most depressing engagement party of the century.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Manchester City 3-1 Bournemouth Sunderland vs Everton David Moyes has not been back on the touchline at the Stadium of Light since his unhappy spell in charge of Sunderland ended in relegation in 2017.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
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But if Brown is that unhappy with his status on the team, perhaps moving him would be addition by subtraction, as Florio suggested.—
Robert Marvi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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As the sole music category at the moment, the batch of nominees is reflective of the launchpad TikTok has provided for new artists.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
3 Nov. 2025
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The Johnson County government website says to incorporate reflective elements into costumes.—
Joseph Hernandez,
Kansas City Star,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
In adults, physical activity helps to prevent and manage health problems like cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes and reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety—while also enhancing brain health and overall wellbeing—according to the World Health Organization.—
Hannah Millington,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
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Specifically, the study found that the teens and young adults required medical care for common mental disorders like anxiety and depression, a physical health condition, injuries and poisoning, and other physical diseases.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Melancholy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/melancholy. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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