melancholy

noun
UK: /ˈmel.ən.kɒl.i/
US: /ˈmel.ən.kɑː.li/

  1. A feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause.

    1. A wave of melancholy washed over her.
    2. The autumn leaves evoked a feeling of melancholy and nostalgia for her childhood.

Synonyms

sorrow despondency gloom depression dejection
melancholy adjective

  1. Feeling or expressing pensive sadness.

    1. She had a melancholy look on her face.
    2. The old photograph triggered melancholy memories of her deceased grandparents.
melancholy adjective

  1. Having a feeling of thoughtful sadness, often with no obvious cause.

    1. He felt melancholy because the day was ending.
    2. The rain made me feel a bit melancholy and I just wanted to curl up with a book.

  2. Causing or expressing sadness; depressing.

    1. The melancholy music suited her mood.
    2. The film's melancholy ending left the audience feeling emotionally drained and thoughtful.

Frequently Asked Questions

The phonetic transcription of "melancholy" is /ˈmel.ən.kɒl.i/ in British English and /ˈmel.ən.kɑː.li/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "melancholy": sorrow, despondency, gloom, depression, dejection.

Example usage of "melancholy": "A wave of melancholy washed over her.". More examples on the page.