melancholy 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of melancholynext
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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melancholy

2 of 2

noun

ˈme-lən-ˌkä-lē How to pronounce melancholy (audio)
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 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 melancholy
Adjective
Here, though, the melancholy sinks in, especially when O’Flynn’s parents (Marion Bailey and Paul Jesson) are concerned. — Joe Reid, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026 There is romance and melancholy, playfulness and despair, all happening at once. — Photovogue, Vogue, 17 Sep. 2026
Noun
Don Hertzfeldt occasionally comes to mind for a similarly pervasive mood of questioning, philosophical melancholy. — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 12 June 2026 Lines that seem artlessly off-the-cuff on first pass accrue an unexpected weight and purpose the fourth time through; the countrified guitar lick that sounds so chipper at the start of a song is dripping with melancholy by the end. — Stuart Berman, Pitchfork, 4 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for melancholy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for melancholy
  1. sad
  2. depressed
  3. thoughtful
  4. sadness
  5. depressing
  6. unhappy
  7. reflective
  8. depression
Adjective
  • When the modern-day world has nothing to offer us but AI slop, shrinkflation and a sad acceptance that we can't be bothered to do anything about global warming.
    — Ian Stokes, Space.com, 19 Oct. 2026
  • This island that was so fantastic has become Work Island and that’s sad.
    — Joe Lynch, Billboard, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of sad
Adjective
  • Celebrated as masterpieces today, at the time they were regarded as the unpolished works of a depressed, crazy man and commercially worthless.
    — Joan Martelli, Time, 17 Oct. 2026
  • In the event of a severe winter or import bottlenecks, depressed storage levels not only narrow Europe's capacity to absorb supply shocks but also risk driving natural gas prices higher.
    — , CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of depressed
Adjective
  • And Winnie-the-Pooh continues to sit, in a thoughtful sort of way, which is what very old bears in very nice glass cases mostly do.
    — STEVE HENDRIX THE WASHINGTON POST, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026
  • While the palette is narrow, thoughtful color moments are strategically placed through accents like carpets and textiles.
    — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of thoughtful
Noun
  • There was a moment this week when tears of sadness gave way to elation for one California couple.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The local journalists who cover the Bend community every day were not immune from the grief and sadness after today’s deadly shooting of children at an elementary school.
    — Phil Helsel, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of sadness
Adjective
  • Cue the depressing rain, dark trench coats, and a dire dystopian dirge because the Blade Runner 2099 trailer is here!
    — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 19 Oct. 2026
  • How many other legendary companies will face a similarly depressing fate?
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of depressing
Adjective
  • Dudus was apparently unhappy about a recent NBC News article that exposed Combs’ cushy life behind bars.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Tim Boyd San Juan Capistrano I’m sure there are Dodgers fans unhappy about losing to the Brewers.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of unhappy
Adjective
  • On the other hand, many of these works are reflective of the time they were written.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • While prefering Goldman over Morgan Stanley , Jim doesn't think the 3% drop in MS is reflective of its business performance.
    — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of reflective
Noun
  • The depression that plagues him in winters is nowhere to be found.
    — David Mack, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026
  • But their emergence also underscores how much psychiatry still needs to learn about the biological underpinnings of depression and why patients respond differently to treatment.
    — Meghana Keshavan, STAT, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of depression

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Cite this Entry

“Melancholy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/melancholy. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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