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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of melancholy
Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 16 Dec. 2024
Jim Jarmusch’s deeply romantic, deeply melancholy Only Lovers Left Alive stars Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston as a vampiric couple who are currently living on different continents, because what’s a little bit of distance when time doesn’t have meaning.
—James Grebey, TIME, 18 Oct. 2024
Bob Sassone, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2024
But over the course of the pair’s tour of Poland to visit their late grandmother’s ancestral home, Benji’s flippant manner keeps dissolving to reveal internal conflict and profound melancholy.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for melancholy 
Adjective
The melancholy voiceover from Elsa Dutton (Isabel May) from 1883 is a nice touch, too, a monologue about the suffering people go through to maintain their control and exploitation of land.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 16 Dec. 2024
Jim Jarmusch’s deeply romantic, deeply melancholy Only Lovers Left Alive stars Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston as a vampiric couple who are currently living on different continents, because what’s a little bit of distance when time doesn’t have meaning.
—James Grebey, TIME, 18 Oct. 2024
Noun
But the Christmas–New Year’s setting adds a nice touch of melancholy to the proceedings.
—Bob Sassone, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2024
But over the course of the pair’s tour of Poland to visit their late grandmother’s ancestral home, Benji’s flippant manner keeps dissolving to reveal internal conflict and profound melancholy.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for melancholy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for melancholy
Adjective
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January 26, 2025: Once again, the Bills lose their playoff game against the Chiefs, sparking a bunch of sad Josh Allen edits on TikTok.—
Glamour,
Glamour,
27 Jan. 2025
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In a sad irony, her grieving family strives to live by Maggie’s words and channel her spirit.—
Faith Karimi,
CNN,
26 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Trump’s high-end real estate ambitions with GOP connections Gen Z employees are stressed, depressed, and burnt out: Study Netflix keeps raising prices.—
Quartz Bot,
Quartz,
22 Jan. 2025
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The study also reveals that 46 percent of Gen Z felt stressed (compared to the 35 percent employee average), 35 percent felt depressed (compared to 20 percent average), 44 percent felt burned out (compared to 34 percent), and 30 percent felt isolated (compared to 22 percent).—
Jess Thomson,
Newsweek,
17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Employers consistently emphasize the value of hiring individuals with a broad knowledge base who can collaborate to solve problems, engage in thoughtful debate, communicate clearly, and think critically—skills that liberal-arts programs rigorously cultivate.—
Sarah Hernholm,
Forbes,
18 Jan. 2025
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And having more thoughtful conversations doesn’t preclude the need sometimes to confront those who are needlessly cruel or organizations that benefit from such exploitation.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Viewership increased, the Afternoon Depression Zone grew less depressing, everyone seemed happier.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
People.com,
23 Jan. 2025
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As well as Inauguration Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day, today is known as Blue Monday – thought to be the most depressing day of the year.—
Alyssa Jaffer,
Forbes,
20 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Ratings declined, Lynch was unhappy, and the show was canceled.—
Victoria Edel,
People.com,
16 Jan. 2025
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Saquon Barkley is an unstoppable force, the defense is resurgent under Vic Fangio, the chatter about an unhappy A.J. Brown has mostly died down.—
Dianna Russini,
The Athletic,
16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The systems failed to work altogether with the reflective stripes added to either the black or white alternatives.—
Jim Gorzelany,
Forbes,
20 Jan. 2025
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What could have been a drab ten-story block surrounded by pavement instead became a low, deep, black-glass blob—reflective in the day, glowing at night—that filled the whole lot, following the curves of medieval streets.—
Ian Parker,
The New Yorker,
20 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The mental benefits of dancing are also well studied, improving mood and alleviating symptoms of stress, depression, and anxiety.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
26 Jan. 2025
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From his research came a prescription: A nation plagued with heart disease, diabetes, depression and an addiction crisis was — more than anything else — in need of community.—
Rachel Kraus,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Angelo Badalamenti’s mournful, string-laden score draws us in, emphasizing the quaintness of the visuals, while also suggesting a deeper pain at the core of this place.—
Harrison Richlin,
IndieWire,
19 Jan. 2025
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The Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) shared a sorrowful story across their social media feeds about a mournful looking cat.—
TJ Macias,
Miami Herald,
10 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near melancholy
Cite this Entry
“Melancholy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/melancholy. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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