mellow

7 antonyms for mellow — opposites grouped by meaning.

Adj — Ripe, soft, and sweet-tasting, without harshness or sharpness — used for fruit, wine, cheese, or other matured food and drink.

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adj

Ripe, soft, and sweet-tasting, without harshness or sharpness — used for fruit, wine, cheese, or other matured food and drink.

“The cheese had aged into a mellow, nutty flavour.”

melt mellow out mellowed high

Opposites

bitter sour astringent acid unripe

2. adj

Calm, relaxed, and easygoing, especially through age or experience; also used loosely for someone pleasantly drunk or high.

“Her grandfather grew mellow with age, rarely losing his temper anymore.”

Opposites

harsh sober

3. verb

To become calmer, softer, or less harsh over time — or to cause something or someone to become that way.

“The old rivalry between the two families has mellowed over the years.”

melt

Antonyms

bitter sour astringent acid unripe harsh sober

How to use mellow

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

a mellow flavour grow mellow mellow out a mellow mood

Etymology

From Middle English melowe ("ripe, soft, juicy"), likely tracing back to Old English words for ground grain or for something soft and tender — the exact root is debated by etymologists.

Full origin of mellow →

Frequently asked questions

What does “mellow” mean?

The word “mellow” means ripe, soft, and sweet-tasting, without harshness or sharpness — used for fruit, wine, cheese, or other matured food and drink. In plain terms, soft, ripe, and pleasant rather than harsh — used for flavours, sounds, and for people who are calm and relaxed.

How do you pronounce “mellow”?

“Mellow” is pronounced MEH-loh (/ˈmɛloʊ/ in IPA).

How do you use “mellow” in a sentence?

Here is “mellow” used in a sentence: “The cheese had aged into a mellow, nutty flavour.”

What part of speech is “mellow”?

Depending on how it is used, “mellow” can be an adjective, a verb and a noun.

Where does the word “mellow” come from?

The word “mellow” comes from Old English. From Middle English melowe ("ripe, soft, juicy"), likely tracing back to Old English words for ground grain or for something soft and tender — the exact root is debated by etymologists.

Is “mellow” a common word?

“Mellow” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “mellow” have?

“Mellow” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: ripe, soft, and sweet-tasting, without harshness or sharpness — used for fruit, wine, cheese, or other matured food and drink.

People also searched

high acid bitter harsh sober melt sour astringent unripe mellowed

Nearby words

← Back to the full definition of mellow