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Melancholy music: meaning, definitions and examples

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melancholy music

[ ˈmɛlənkəli ]

Noun

^{Context #1 | Noun}

listening to

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

Synonyms

despair, gloom, sadness, sorrow.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
melancholy music	This term is best used when talking about music that evokes a feeling of gentle, reflective sadness without being outright depressing. I often listen to melancholy music when I'm in a contemplative mood. The film's score was filled with melancholy music that perfectly matched the sorrowful scenes.
sadness	Sadness is a general term for feeling unhappy and is widely applicable in many different situations. She felt a deep sadness after her pet passed away. There was a note of sadness in his voice when he spoke about the past.
sorrow	Sorrow is a feeling of deep distress caused by loss, disappointment, or other serious misfortune. He was unable to hide his sorrow at the funeral. The story is filled with moments of profound sorrow.
gloom	Gloom refers to a state of darkness or a feeling of low spirits. It is often used for situations that are somewhat depressing but not entirely hopeless. The gloomy weather made everyone feel down. There was a sense of gloom in the room after the bad news was announced.
despair	Despair is used in situations where there is a complete loss of hope and extreme sadness. After losing his job, he was filled with despair. The characters in the novel faced moments of deep despair.

Examples of usage

The sound of melancholy music filled the room.
Her poems are full of melancholy and longing.
I could sense a touch of melancholy in his voice.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

creating

A musical composition that has a mournful or pensive character.

Synonyms

mournful composition, pensive melody, sorrowful music.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
melancholy music	This phrase is suitable when describing music that evokes a gentle, reflective sadness, often used in a sophisticated or literary context. She turned on some melancholy music that perfectly matched her mood. The film's soundtrack was filled with melancholy music that underlined the protagonist's journey.

Word

Description / Examples

melancholy music

This phrase is suitable when describing music that evokes a gentle, reflective sadness, often used in a sophisticated or literary context.

She turned on some melancholy music that perfectly matched her mood.
The film's soundtrack was filled with melancholy music that underlined the protagonist's journey.

Examples of usage

The composer poured his melancholy into the music.
The melancholy music evoked strong emotions in the audience.

Translations

Translations of the word "melancholy music" in other languages:

🇵🇹 música melancólica

🇮🇳 उदास संगीत

🇩🇪 melancholische Musik

🇮🇩 musik melankolis

🇺🇦 меланхолійна музика

🇵🇱 melancholijna muzyka

🇯🇵 憂鬱な音楽

🇫🇷 musique mélancolique

🇪🇸 música melancólica

🇹🇷 melankolik müzik

🇰🇷 우울한 음악

🇸🇦 موسيقى كئيبة

🇨🇿 melancholická hudba

🇸🇰 melancholická hudba

🇨🇳 忧郁的音乐

🇸🇮 melanholična glasba

🇮🇸 melankólískt tónlist

🇰🇿 меланхолиялық музыка

🇬🇪 მელანქოლიური მუსიკა

🇦🇿 melanxolik musiqi

🇲🇽 música melancólica

Etymology

The word 'melancholy' has its origins in ancient Greek philosophy, where it was believed to be one of the four temperaments along with sanguine, choleric, and phlegmatic. In medieval times, melancholy was associated with an excess of black bile, one of the four humors in the body. Over time, the word evolved to represent a deep sadness or sorrow, often without a specific reason. In music, melancholy compositions have been popular throughout history for their ability to evoke strong emotions in listeners.