MOPING Synonyms: 174 Similar and Opposite Words

moping 1 of 2

adjective

as in brooding

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Dissimilar Words

moping

2 of 2

verb

present participle of mope

as in lingering

to move or act slowly we were in a rush, and the Sunday driver in front of us was just moping along

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in pouting

to silently go about in a bad mood she's been moping all weekend because her boyfriend hasn't called even once

Synonyms & Similar 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 moping

Verb

Duke, whose time in the pub is spent either moping or getting hyped up by his aunt Kaulo doing her best Lady Macbeth. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026 In other words, if Hollywood had an awards show for public corruption trials, this case would be at home watching it and moping that it didn’t get nominated. — Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 1 Feb. 2026 Koko storms off and spends the rest of the evening moping about the interaction. — Jihan Forbes, Allure, 29 Oct. 2025 In June the McCoys went back to Bloomington and Catherine spent the summer moping. — Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2025 One week, a colleague noticed Packard moping around the office and asked what was wrong. — Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025 Rather than moping about, get your shop on with one or all of these many holiday sales. — Averi Baudler, People.com, 22 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for moping

Adjective

Davidson previously teased just how far the transformation goes, appearing in an earlier first-look image with longer hair, a darker, more brooding look, and colored contacts.

— Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 26 Aug. 2026
In a little over a hundred pages, Martin interlaces stark, brooding and intense descriptions of the encounter and her injuries with philosophical, even spiritual, explorations.

— The Know, Denver Post, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of brooding

Verb

Patterson, who turns 27 on Tuesday, has experience at guard and center, and the 49ers needed a backup at both spots considering Toth’s lingering concussion symptoms.

— Matt Barrows, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
For Green, and the Warriors (2-0), the victory eliminated any lingering doubts about their season opener last week, a thrilling, 32-26 triple-overtime win against Newbury Park.

— Joel Beers, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of lingering

Verb

Some people will probably be pouting in those debriefs.

— Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026
My introduction to Peters came late last year, when Instagram’s algorithm served me a video of him wearing a baseball cap, primping and pouting for the camera.

— Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 19 Jan. 2026

Definition of pouting

Adjective

How skipping breakfast affects kids at school Nemours KidsHealth reports that kids who miss the morning meal often feel tired, restless or irritable by midmorning.

— Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Aug. 2026
Skipping meals can negatively affect blood sugar levels and leave you feeling hungry, irritable, and unable to pay attention.

— Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of irritable

Verb

As mentioned previously, Babcock obstinately played a late-career Marleau in significant minutes during his time in Toronto with dragging results.

— Janson Duench, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
The officer ordered him to stop, but the man continued driving, dragging the officer a short distance.

— Mike Hellgren, CBS News, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of dragging

Verb

But nothing good came from sulking.

— Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 19 May 2026
With that goal in mind, Dijkstra has constructed a scheme to ensure that King Radovid stops drinking and sulking over Jaskier and embraces his role as one of the few remaining leaders who can oppose Emhyr’s army.

— Scott Meslow, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025

Definition of sulking

Adjective

But Nile’s menacing quiet luxury also manifests his petulant rebellion and desire to break free from the shadow — and control — of his father, Martin (Jonathan Banks).

— Fawnia Soo Hoo, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
Now people on both sides of the border will pay for a senseless trade war instigated by a petulant and vengeful president.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of petulant

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mopey

moping

mopped

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Style

“Moping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moping. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of moping

adjective

verb

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