Melancholic: meaning, definitions and examples

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melancholic

 

[ ˌmelənˈkɒlɪk ]

Adjective / Noun
Context #1 | Adjective

feeling

Feeling or expressing sadness, typically with no obvious cause.

Synonyms

depressed, downcast, gloomy, sad.

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Word Description / Examples
melancholic

Best used to describe a deep and often reflective sadness, typically one that is somewhat romantic or poetic.

  • The melancholic tunes of the piano echoed through the empty hall.
  • He had a melancholic look in his eyes as he remembered his childhood.
sad

General term for a feeling of unhappiness or sorrow. It can be used in a variety of situations, both minor and major.

  • She was sad to see her friend leave.
  • The movie had a very sad ending.
gloomy

Used to describe a mood or atmosphere that is dark and depressing. Often refers to the weather or a place, but can also apply to a person’s emotions.

  • The gloomy weather matched his somber mood.
  • She felt gloomy after hearing the bad news.
depressed

Used to describe a serious state of sadness that affects someone's mental health. It often implies a clinical condition or a prolonged period of intense sadness.

  • She has been feeling depressed for months and decided to seek help from a therapist.
  • The news left him feeling utterly depressed.
downcast

Typically used to describe someone who feels despondent or has lost hope. Can also refer to someone with their head lowered in sadness or defeat.

  • His downcast eyes revealed his disappointment.
  • Feeling downcast, she didn't have the energy to attend the party.

Examples of usage

  • She felt melancholic after watching the movie.
  • His melancholic gaze lingered on the horizon.
Context #2 | Noun

art

A person who is given to melancholy, or a piece of music, art, etc., with a melancholy atmosphere.

Synonyms

despondent, mournful, pessimist, sorrowful.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
melancholic

Often used to describe a gentle, reflective sadness that lingers over time.

  • The melancholic tunes of the piano filled the room.
  • She had a melancholic look in her eyes.
pessimist

Refers to someone who generally expects negative outcomes; typically carries a negative connotation.

  • He's such a pessimist, always imagining the worst-case scenarios.
  • Even on sunny days, the pessimist predicts rain.
sorrowful

Describes a feeling of deep sadness, often related to regret or loss.

  • She gave him a sorrowful look as she told the tragic news.
  • The story had a sorrowful ending that left everyone in tears.
mournful

Used to describe a deep sadness often related to grief or mourning.

  • The mournful cries at the funeral touched everyone's heart.
  • He had a mournful expression after hearing the devastating news.
despondent

Describes a state of being in low spirits due to a sense of loss or lack of hope.

  • After losing the job, he felt utterly despondent.
  • The team was despondent after yet another defeat.

Examples of usage

  • The painting evoked the spirit of a melancholic.
  • He was known as a melancholic in the art world.

Translations

Translations of the word "melancholic" in other languages:

🇵🇹 melancólico

🇮🇳 उदास

🇩🇪 melancholisch

🇮🇩 melankolis

🇺🇦 меланхолійний

🇵🇱 melancholijny

🇯🇵 憂鬱な (ゆううつな)

🇫🇷 mélancolique

🇪🇸 melancólico

🇹🇷 melankolik

🇰🇷 우울한 (u-ulhan)

🇸🇦 كئيب (kāʾib)

🇨🇿 melancholický

🇸🇰 melancholický

🇨🇳 忧郁的 (yōuyù de)

🇸🇮 melanholičen

🇮🇸 melankólískur

🇰🇿 меланхолик

🇬🇪 მელანქოლიური (melanqoliuri)

🇦🇿 melanxolik

🇲🇽 melancólico

Etymology

The word 'melancholic' originated from the Greek word 'melankholia', which was a combination of 'melas' meaning black, and 'kholē' meaning bile. In ancient times, it was believed that an excess of black bile in the body caused a person to feel melancholic. The concept of melancholy has been explored in various forms of art, literature, and psychology throughout history.

See also: melancholy.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #25,647, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.