melancholy Definition
- 1a feeling of sadness, typically with no obvious cause
- 2a pensive mood or state of mind
Using melancholy: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "melancholy" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
She was filled with melancholy after her dog died.
Example
The painting evokes a sense of melancholy.
Example
He couldn't shake off the melancholy that had settled over him.
Example
The book is a study of melancholy and its effects on the human psyche.
melancholy Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for melancholy
Idioms Using melancholy
a feeling of sadness or nostalgia associated with the end of summer and the arrival of fall
Example
As the leaves began to fall, she felt the melancholy of autumn set in.
melancholy and blue
feeling sad and depressed
Example
After her breakup, she was feeling melancholy and blue.
melancholy as a dog
extremely sad or depressed
Example
After losing his job, he was as melancholy as a dog.
Phrases with melancholy
a state of mind characterized by sadness and gloominess
Example
He was in a melancholy mood all day.
music that evokes a feeling of sadness or nostalgia
Example
The melancholy music made her feel even sadder.
a person who is often sad or depressed
Example
He was known as a melancholy soul who rarely smiled.
Origins of melancholy
from Greek 'melankholia', meaning 'sadness'
Summary: melancholy in Brief
Melancholy [ˈmɛlənkəli] is a feeling of sadness or pensive mood without an obvious cause. It is often associated with gloom and despondency, as in 'She was filled with melancholy after her dog died.' The term extends into phrases like 'melancholy music' and idioms like 'melancholy as a dog,' denoting extreme sadness.
