You describe something that you see or hear as melancholy when it gives you an intense feeling of sadness.
...a painter of haunting melancholy canvases.
The only sounds were the distant, melancholy cries of the sheep.
The songs start soft and melancholy.
2. uncountable noun
Melancholy is an intense feeling of sadness which lasts for a long time and which strongly affects your behaviour and attitudes.
[literary]
I was deeply aware of his melancholy as he stood among the mourners.
The general watched the process with an air of melancholy.
Synonyms: sadness, depression, misery, gloom More Synonyms of melancholy
3. adjective
If someone feels or looks melancholy, they feel or look very sad.
[literary]
It was in these hours of the late afternoon that Tom Mulligan felt most melancholy.
He fixed me with those luminous, empty eyes and his melancholy smile.
Synonyms: sad, down, depressed, unhappy More Synonyms of melancholy
melancholy in British English
(ˈmɛlənkəlɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-cholies
1.
a constitutional tendency to gloominess or depression
2.
a sad thoughtful state of mind; pensiveness
3. archaic
a.
a gloomy character, thought to be caused by too much black bile
b.
one of the four bodily humours; black bile
humour (sense 8)
adjective
4.
characterized by, causing, or expressing sadness, dejection, etc
Derived forms
melancholily (ˈmɛlənˌkɒlɪlɪ)
adverb
melancholiness (ˈmelanˌcholiness)
noun
Word origin
C14: via Old French from Late Latin melancholia, from Greek melankholia, from melas black + kholē bile
melancholy in American English
(ˈmɛlənˌkɑli)
nounWord forms: pluralˈmelanˌcholies
1. Obsolete
a.
black bile: in medieval times considered to be one of the four humors of the body, to come from the spleen or kidneys, and to cause gloominess, irritability, or depression
b.
the condition of having, or the disorder supposed to result from having, too much black bile
2.
a.
sadness and depression of spirits
b.
a tendency to be sad, gloomy, or depressed
3.
sad, sober musing; pensiveness
adjective
4.
sad and depressed; gloomy
5.
a.
causing sadness, gloom, or depression
b.
lamentable; deplorable
6.
sadly or soberly musing; pensive
7. Obsolete
having the disorder of melancholy
SIMILAR WORDS: sad
Derived forms
melancholic (ˌmelanˈcholic)
adjective
melancholically (ˌmelanˈcholically)
adverb
Word origin
ME malencoli < OFr melancolie < LL melancholia < Gr < melas, black (see melano-) + cholē, bile, gall: see yellow
Examples of 'melancholy' in a sentence
melancholy
The shadowy foliage and its reflection of lingering sunlight from the shiny leaves capture something sweetly melancholy at this dark time of year.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It made me feel melancholy and reflective.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Other songs are soulful and carry an air of melancholy.
The Sun (2014)
Scorpio people could also surprise you with their melancholy mood this weekend.
The Sun (2015)
He had no reason to feel melancholy.
Aldiss, Brian Somewhere East of Life (1994)
Hold your head high and maintain a melancholy air at all times.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Live is perfect for those rainy afternoons when melancholy is the mood of choice.
Christianity Today (2000)
It is nice to have, especially if you are feeling a bit melancholy.
The Sun (2008)
I like their more melancholy songs in general.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Is he a melancholy man?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Edward sat down on a stool by the side of the orphan, and remained for some time in deep and melancholy thought.
Frederick Marryat The Children of the New Forest (1847)
For the first time he gave her a faint smile, but it looked so melancholy on his pale face that she could hardly help crying.
George Eliot Daniel Deronda (1876)
The spectator feels the forlorn atmosphere; senses the image's haunting melancholy.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
I felt sad it had to end, so we were listening to quite melancholy songs on the tour bus.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Differences exist, too: chiefly the presence of a deep and keen melancholy.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Yet there's something sad about the collapse of what inspired so many as an ideal: something melancholy in its decay.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
His dark eyes reflect a deep melancholy: he is convinced that unless she is released soon, his mother will die.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
This is a melancholy and moving story but, for some of its characters, the hopes for a better life flicker faintly.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
I can see there was melancholy in the songs, but it's partly my tone of voice.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
WITH their first two albums, this London-based quartet built a fan base in love with their haunting melancholy.
The Sun (2011)
In other languages
melancholy
British English: melancholy ADJECTIVE
You describe something that you see or hear as melancholy when it gives you an intense feeling of sadness.
...a painter of haunting melancholy canvases.
American English: melancholy
Brazilian Portuguese: melancólico
Chinese: 忧郁的
European Spanish: melancólico
French: mélancolique
German: melancholisch
Italian: malinconico
Japanese: 物悲しい
Korean: 우울한
European Portuguese: melancólico
Latin American Spanish: melancólico
Chinese translation of 'melancholy'
melancholy
(ˈmɛlənkəlɪ)
adj
(= sad) 忧(憂)郁(鬱)的 (yōuyù de)
n(u)
(= sadness) 忧(憂)郁(鬱) (yōuyù)
(adjective)
Definition
characterized by, causing, or expressing sadness
It was at this time of day that I felt most melancholy.
Synonyms
sad
The loss left me feeling sad and empty.
down
The old man sounded really down.
depressed
He seemed somewhat depressed.
unhappy
Her boss is horrible and she is desperately unhappy.
low
`I didn't ask for this job, you know,' he tells friends when he is low.
blue
There's no earthly reason for me to feel so blue.
miserable
She went to bed, miserable and depressed.
moody
Don't go all moody on me!
gloomy
He is gloomy about the fate of the economy.
dismal
You can't occupy yourself with dismal thoughts all the time.
sombre
The pair were in sombre mood.
woeful
those woeful people to whom life had dealt a bad hand
glum
What are you both looking so glum about?
mournful
He looked mournful, even near to tears.
dejected
Everyone has days when they feel dejected or down.
despondent
He often felt despondent after these meetings.
dispirited
I left feeling utterly dispirited.
melancholic
downcast
a glum, downcast expression
lugubrious
He plays it so slowly that it becomes lugubrious.
pensive
She looked suddenly sombre and pensive.
sorrowful
His father's face looked suddenly soft and sorrowful.
disconsolate
He was looking increasingly disconsolate.
joyless
His work load had become so enormous that life seemed joyless.
doleful
He stared over his glasses with a doleful look.
downhearted
Don't be so downhearted.
heavy-hearted
She looked as heavy-hearted as she felt.
down in the dumps (informal)
woebegone
She sniffed and looked quite woebegone.
down in the mouth
low-spirited
He was low-spirited, disappointed and out of humour.
Opposites
happy
,
cheerful
,
bright
,
glad
,
lively
,
sunny
,
jolly
,
merry
,
joyous
,
joyful
,
blithe
,
gay
,
light-hearted
(noun)
Definition
a sad thoughtful state of mind
We watched the process with an air of melancholy.
Synonyms
sadness
It is with a mixture of sadness and joy that I say farewell.
depression
I slid into a depression and found it hard to go to work.
misery
All that money brought nothing but misery.
gloom
the deepening gloom over the economy
sorrow
It was a time of great sorrow.
woe
He listened to my tale of woe.
blues
unhappiness
There was a lot of unhappiness in my adolescence.
despondency
There's a mood of gloom and despondency in the country.
the hump (British, informal)
dejection
There was a slight air of dejection about her.
low spirits
gloominess
pensiveness
Opposites
delight
,
pleasure
,
joy
,
happiness
,
gladness
Additional synonyms
in the sense of blue
Definition
depressed or unhappy
There's no earthly reason for me to feel so blue.
Synonyms
depressed,
low,
sad,
unhappy,
fed up,
gloomy,
dismal,
melancholy,
glum,
dejected,
despondent,
downcast,
down in the dumps (informal),
down in the mouth,
low-spirited,
down-hearted
in the sense of dejected
Definition
in low spirits
Everyone has days when they feel dejected or down.
Synonyms
downhearted,
down,
low,
blue,
sad,
depressed,
miserable,
gloomy,
dismal,
melancholy,
glum,
despondent,
downcast,
morose,
disheartened,
wretched,
disconsolate,
crestfallen,
doleful,
down in the dumps (informal),
cast down,
sick as a parrot (informal),
woebegone,
low-spirited
in the sense of dejection
There was a slight air of dejection about her.
Synonyms
low spirits,
depression,
gloom,
blues,
dumps (informal),
despair,
sadness,
sorrow,
melancholy,
unhappiness,
doldrums,
despondency,
the hump (British, informal),
gloominess,
heavy-heartedness,
downheartedness
Nearby words of
melancholy
meet someone halfway
meeting
megalomania
melancholy
melange
melee
mellifluous
Synonyms of 'melancholy'
melancholy
Explore 'melancholy' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of depressed
Definition
low in spirits
He seemed somewhat depressed.
Synonyms
sad,
down,
low,
blue,
unhappy,
discouraged,
fed up,
moody,
gloomy,
pessimistic,
melancholy,
sombre,
glum,
mournful,
dejected,
despondent,
dispirited,
downcast,
morose,
disconsolate,
crestfallen,
doleful,
downhearted,
heavy-hearted,
down in the dumps (informal),
cheerless,
woebegone,
down in the mouth (informal),
low-spirited
in the sense of depression
Definition
a mental state in which a person has feelings of gloom and inadequacy
I slid into a depression and found it hard to go to work.
Synonyms
despair,
misery,
sadness,
the dumps (informal),
the blues,
melancholy,
unhappiness,
hopelessness,
despondency,
the hump (British, informal),
bleakness,
melancholia,
dejection,
wretchedness,
low spirits,
gloominess,
dolefulness,
cheerlessness,
downheartedness
in the sense of despondency
There's a mood of gloom and despondency in the country.
Synonyms
dejection,
depression,
despair,
misery,
gloom,
sadness,
desperation,
melancholy,
hopelessness,
the hump (British, informal),
discouragement,
wretchedness,
low spirits,
disconsolateness,
dispiritedness,
downheartedness
in the sense of despondent
Definition
dejected or depressed
He often felt despondent after these meetings.
Synonyms
dejected,
sad,
depressed,
down,
low,
blue,
despairing,
discouraged,
miserable,
gloomy,
hopeless,
dismal,
melancholy,
in despair,
glum,
dispirited,
downcast,
morose,
disheartened,
sorrowful,
wretched,
disconsolate,
doleful,
downhearted,
down in the dumps (informal),
sick as a parrot (informal),
woebegone,
low-spirited
in the sense of disconsolate
Definition
sad beyond comfort
He was looking increasingly disconsolate.
Synonyms
sad,
low,
unhappy,
miserable,
gloomy,
dismal,
melancholy,
forlorn,
woeful,
dejected,
wretched,
down in the dumps (informal)
in the sense of dismal
Definition
gloomy and depressing
You can't occupy yourself with dismal thoughts all the time.
Synonyms
sad,
gloomy,
melancholy,
black,
dark,
depressing,
discouraging,
bleak,
dreary,
sombre,
forlorn,
despondent,
lugubrious,
sorrowful,
wretched,
funereal,
cheerless,
dolorous
in the sense of dispirited
I left feeling utterly dispirited.
Synonyms
disheartened,
depressed,
discouraged,
down,
low,
sad,
gloomy,
glum,
dejected,
in the doldrums,
despondent,
downcast,
morose,
crestfallen,
sick as a parrot (informal)
in the sense of doleful
Definition
dreary or mournful
He stared over his glasses with a doleful look.
Synonyms
mournful,
sad,
gloomy,
depressing,
low,
painful,
distressing,
dismal,
melancholy,
dreary,
sombre,
pitiful,
forlorn,
woeful,
lugubrious,
sorrowful,
wretched,
funereal,
cheerless,
woebegone,
down in the mouth,
dolorous
in the sense of down
Definition
depressed or unhappy
The old man sounded really down.
Synonyms
depressed,
low,
sad,
blue,
unhappy,
discouraged,
miserable,
fed up,
dismal,
pessimistic,
melancholy,
glum,
dejected,
despondent,
dispirited,
downcast,
morose,
disheartened,
crestfallen,
downhearted,
down in the dumps (informal),
sick as a parrot (informal),
low-spirited
in the sense of downcast
Definition
sad and dejected
a glum, downcast expression
Synonyms
dejected,
sad,
depressed,
unhappy,
disappointed,
discouraged,
miserable,
dismayed,
choked,
daunted,
dismal,
despondent,
dispirited,
disheartened,
disconsolate,
crestfallen,
down in the dumps (informal),
cheerless,
sick as a parrot (informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of downhearted
Definition
sad and discouraged
Don't be so downhearted.
Synonyms
dejected,
sad,
depressed,
unhappy,
blue,
discouraged,
dismayed,
despondent,
dispirited,
downcast,
disheartened,
sorrowful,
crestfallen,
sick as a parrot (informal),
low-spirited,
chapfallen
in the sense of gloom
Definition
depression or melancholy
the deepening gloom over the economy
Synonyms
depression,
despair,
misery,
sadness,
sorrow,
blues,
woe,
melancholy,
unhappiness,
desolation,
despondency,
dejection,
low spirits,
downheartedness
in the sense of gloomy
Definition
despairing or sad
He is gloomy about the fate of the economy.
Synonyms
miserable,
down,
sad,
dismal,
low,
blue,
pessimistic,
melancholy,
glum,
dejected,
despondent,
dispirited,
downcast,
joyless,
downhearted,
down in the dumps (informal),
cheerless,
down in the mouth,
in low spirits,
chapfallen,
moody,
sullen,
morose,
crestfallen,
saturnine
in the sense of glum
Definition
gloomy and quiet, usually because of a disappointment
What are you both looking so glum about?
Synonyms
gloomy,
miserable,
dismal,
down,
low,
melancholy,
dejected,
downcast,
morose,
doleful,
downhearted,
down in the dumps (informal),
down in the mouth,
in low spirits,
chapfallen,
sour,
moody,
crabbed,
pessimistic,
grumpy,
sullen,
surly,
churlish,
sulky,
crestfallen,
saturnine,
huffy,
ill-humoured
in the sense of heavy-hearted
Definition
sad and discouraged
She looked as heavy-hearted as she felt.
Synonyms
sad,
depressed,
discouraged,
miserable,
crushed,
dismal,
melancholy,
forlorn,
mournful,
despondent,
downcast,
morose,
disheartened,
sorrowful,
downhearted,
down in the dumps (informal),
sick as a parrot (informal),
heartsick
in the sense of joyless
Definition
feeling or bringing no joy
His work load had become so enormous that life seemed joyless.
Synonyms
unhappy,
sad,
depressing,
miserable,
gloomy,
dismal,
dreary,
dejected,
dispirited,
downcast,
down in the dumps (informal),
cheerless
in the sense of low
Definition
in a weakened physical or mental state
`I didn't ask for this job, you know,' he tells friends when he is low.
Synonyms
dejected,
down,
blue,
sad,
depressed,
unhappy,
miserable,
fed up,
moody,
gloomy,
dismal,
forlorn,
glum,
despondent,
downcast,
morose,
disheartened,
downhearted,
down in the dumps (informal),
sick as a parrot (informal),
cheesed off (informal),
brassed off (British, slang)
in the sense of low-spirited
Definition
depressed or dejected
He was low-spirited, disappointed and out of humour.
Synonyms
depressed,
down,
sad,
unhappy,
low,
blue,
miserable,
fed up,
moody,
gloomy,
dismal,
dejected,
despondent,
apathetic,
heavy-hearted,
down in the dumps (informal),
down in the mouth,
down-hearted,
brassed off (British, slang)
in the sense of lugubrious
Definition
mournful or gloomy
He plays it so slowly that it becomes lugubrious.
Synonyms
gloomy,
serious,
sad,
dismal,
melancholy,
dreary,
sombre,
woeful,
mournful,
morose,
sorrowful,
funereal,
doleful,
woebegone,
dirgelike
in the sense of miserable
Definition
unhappy or depressed
She went to bed, miserable and depressed.
Synonyms
sad,
down,
low,
depressed,
distressed,
gloomy,
dismal,
afflicted,
melancholy,
heartbroken,
desolate,
forlorn,
mournful,
dejected,
broken-hearted,
despondent,
downcast,
sorrowful,
wretched,
disconsolate,
crestfallen,
doleful,
down in the dumps (informal),
woebegone,
down in the mouth (informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of misery
Definition
intense unhappiness or suffering
All that money brought nothing but misery.
Synonyms
unhappiness,
distress,
despair,
grief,
suffering,
depression,
torture,
agony,
gloom,
sadness,
discomfort,
torment,
hardship,
sorrow,
woe,
anguish,
melancholy,
desolation,
wretchedness
in the sense of moody
Definition
sullen, sulky, or gloomy
Don't go all moody on me!
Synonyms
gloomy,
sad,
miserable,
melancholy,
frowning,
dismal,
dour,
sullen,
glum,
introspective,
in the doldrums,
out of sorts (informal),
downcast,
morose,
lugubrious,
pensive,
broody,
crestfallen,
doleful,
down in the dumps (informal),
saturnine,
down in the mouth (informal),
mopish,
mopy
in the sense of mournful
Definition
feeling or expressing grief and sadness
He looked mournful, even near to tears.
Synonyms
dismal,
sad,
unhappy,
miserable,
gloomy,
grieving,
melancholy,
sombre,
heartbroken,
desolate,
woeful,
rueful,
heavy,
downcast,
grief-stricken,
lugubrious,
disconsolate,
joyless,
funereal,
heavy-hearted,
down in the dumps (informal),
cheerless,
brokenhearted
in the sense of pensive
Definition
deeply thoughtful, often with a tinge of sadness
She looked suddenly sombre and pensive.
Synonyms
thoughtful,
serious,
sad,
blue (informal),
grave,
sober,
musing,
preoccupied,
melancholy,
solemn,
reflective,
dreamy,
wistful,
mournful,
contemplative,
meditative,
sorrowful,
ruminative,
in a brown study (informal),
cogitative
in the sense of sombre
Definition
serious, sad, or gloomy
The pair were in sombre mood.
Synonyms
gloomy,
sad,
sober,
grave,
dismal,
melancholy,
mournful,
lugubrious,
joyless,
funereal,
doleful,
sepulchral
in the sense of sorrow
Definition
deep sadness or regret, associated with death or sympathy for another's misfortune
It was a time of great sorrow.
Synonyms
grief,
sadness,
woe,
regret,
distress,
misery,
mourning,
anguish,
unhappiness,
heartache,
heartbreak,
affliction
in the sense of sorrowful
His father's face looked suddenly soft and sorrowful.
Synonyms
sad,
unhappy,
miserable,
sorry,
depressed,
painful,
distressed,
grieving,
dismal,
afflicted,
melancholy,
tearful,
heartbroken,
woeful,
mournful,
dejected,
rueful,
lugubrious,
wretched,
disconsolate,
doleful,
heavy-hearted,
down in the dumps (informal),
woebegone,
piteous,
sick at heart
in the sense of unhappiness
There was a lot of unhappiness in my adolescence.
Synonyms
sadness,
depression,
misery,
gloom,
sorrow,
melancholy,
heartache,
despondency,
blues,
dejection,
wretchedness,
low spirits
in the sense of unhappy
Definition
sad or depressed
Her boss is horrible and she is desperately unhappy.
Synonyms
sad,
depressed,
miserable,
down,
low,
blue,
gloomy,
melancholy,
mournful,
dejected,
despondent,
dispirited,
downcast,
long-faced,
sorrowful,
disconsolate,
crestfallen,
down in the dumps (informal)
in the sense of woe
Definition
intense grief
He listened to my tale of woe.
Synonyms
misery,
suffering,
trouble,
pain,
disaster,
depression,
distress,
grief,
agony,
gloom,
sadness,
hardship,
sorrow,
anguish,
misfortune,
unhappiness,
heartache,
heartbreak,
adversity,
dejection,
wretchedness
Additional synonyms
in the sense of woebegone
Definition
sad in appearance
She sniffed and looked quite woebegone.
Synonyms
gloomy,
low,
blue,
troubled,
sad,
miserable,
forlorn,
mournful,
dejected,
downcast,
grief-stricken,
lugubrious,
long-faced,
sorrowful,
wretched,
disconsolate,
funereal,
crestfallen,
doleful,
downhearted,
down in the dumps (informal),
cheerless,
hangdog,
down in the mouth (informal),
chapfallen
in the sense of woeful
Definition
extremely sad
those woeful people to whom life had dealt a bad hand