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Definition of melancholy

melancholy

/ˈmɛl.əŋˌkɑː.li/
mel · an · chol · y
Adverb:melancholically
•
Plural:melancholies
•
Adjective:melancholic
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melancholy Lexical Profile

melancholy Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Feeling, expressing, or inducing a pensive, lingering sadness.

Example

"The cellist played a slow, melancholy melody that resonated throughout the quiet concert hall."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• noun

1

A feeling of pensive, lingering sadness, typically with no obvious or specific cause.

Example

"An autumn afternoon rain often brings a quiet sense of melancholy to the empty park."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for melancholy
Antonyms
View all antonyms for melancholy

• Nearby Words

melampodium
melanated
melancholic
melancholy
melange
melanin
melanoma

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed via Old French and Late Latin from the Ancient Greek 'melankholía', literally meaning 'black bile', from 'mélas' (black) and 'kholḗ' (bile), reflecting the ancient medical theory that an excess of black bile caused sadness and depression.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Melancholy. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/melancholy
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