1
as in sad
causing unhappiness
the melancholy thought of having to say good-bye to all the friends he had made over the summer
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2
as in depressed
feeling unhappiness
they were a bit melancholy after their youngest child left for college
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3
as in thoughtful
given to or marked by long, quiet thinking
a melancholy period in the artist's life that is reflected in his work
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as in sadness
a state or spell of low spirits
the bleakness of winter sometimes gives me cause for melancholy
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of melancholy
Daniel Bromfield, The Mercury News, 25 Nov. 2024
In 2020, Rateliff released a solo album, his third overall and his first since starting the Night Sweats, with a more melancholy sound that recalled his early-career work.
—Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 4 Nov. 2024
Barry Levitt, TIME, 27 Nov. 2024
After the phone call from the doctor, Annie, who was already experiencing bouts of melancholy after Zoë’s birth, sank into a depression.
—Julia Whelan Krish Seenivasan Lance Neal, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for melancholy 
Adjective
Though the female roles in Shakespeare’s plays were played by men in his day, Mey’s teachers had a hard time accepting a femme-presenting nonbinary person in the role of the melancholy Dane.
—Daniel Bromfield, The Mercury News, 25 Nov. 2024
In 2020, Rateliff released a solo album, his third overall and his first since starting the Night Sweats, with a more melancholy sound that recalled his early-career work.
—Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
Best of Friends - The Fox and the Hound (1981)
Pearl Bailey’s warm vocals paint a portrait of a friendship against all odds, tinged with an undercurrent of melancholy that foreshadows the pair's eventual falling out.
—Barry Levitt, TIME, 27 Nov. 2024
After the phone call from the doctor, Annie, who was already experiencing bouts of melancholy after Zoë’s birth, sank into a depression.
—Julia Whelan Krish Seenivasan Lance Neal, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for melancholy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for melancholy
Adjective
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However, sad to say, Gmail accounts remain a prime target for attackers of all sorts and understanding the threat is key to getting a grip on mitigating it.Davey Winder, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
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What kids gain from taking charge of their own feelings Having strong emotional regulation skills doesn’t mean kids won’t feel sad, angry, or frustrated — that’s part of being human.Amy Morin, Contributor, CNBC, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The Swiss National Bank also cut rates by 50 basis points earlier in the session Thursday, exceeding expectations of a smaller trim amid an ongoing tussle with depressed inflation and a strong Swiss franc.Karen Gilchrist,Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 12 Dec. 2024
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Advertisement Wandering in separately from the modernist monstrosity across the street are JD (Luke Wilson), a depressed out-of-work actor, and glittery, shallow Margo (Linda Cardellini), who will presently be identified as his wife.Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Whether for a grand occasion like a wedding or a simpler celebration like a kid’s birthday party, there’s no denying the joy that comes with a thoughtful piece of paper that’s been stuffed into an envelope, stamped, and sent on its merry, snail-mail way.Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 7 Dec. 2024
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Startups have to be thoughtful about access to public transit while also catering to people who drive.Salvador Rodriguez, CNBC, 6 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Two of the movies feature both Adams and Julianne Moore, and what’s really depressing is that such a phenomenal pairing got wasted on hapless material.Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 6 Dec. 2024
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And seeing even a preview of that was so depressing for me.Okla Jones, Essence, 4 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Some artists and publishers are unhappy with the way their content is being scraped freely by companies like OpenAI and Google to train their large language models — AI models trained on huge quantities of data to generate humanlike responses.Ryan Browne, CNBC, 17 Dec. 2024
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Cronin — who had to cancel some summer shows this year due to unspecified health issues — further acknowledges that there’s acrimony between he and Hall, and he’s been unhappy with some of the social media discourse blaming him for the end of the REO Speedwagon name.Gary Graff, Billboard, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Wedding tablescapes are arguably the most memorable part of a couple’s wedding decor, combining multiple visual elements that are reflective of the couple, their location, and their aesthetic.Boutayna Chokrane, Vogue, 9 Dec. 2024
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The president-elect's transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment whether that was reflective of the ceasefire proposal Trump shared Sunday.Sarah D. Wire, USA TODAY, 8 Dec. 2024
Noun
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How can the brain be stimulated to curb depression, pain, or the effects of Parkinson’s?Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 13 Dec. 2024
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Recognize Who is Most at Risk Certain conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and mental health conditions such as depression can increase the risk of developing severe illness from COVID-19.Essence, Essence, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Very few directors working today can put across a movie like Gladiator II as convincingly, which perhaps explains why the sequel — for all its barbaric violence and the plaintive, at times stirring, discussions about justice and democracy — doesn’t have the mournful quality that the first film did.Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 22 Nov. 2024
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Russell Crowe beating people to death in a soulful, mournful way?Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 20 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near melancholy
Cite this Entry
“Melancholy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/melancholy. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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