melancholic
2 synonyms and 3 antonyms for melancholic, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Feeling or showing deep, often thoughtful sadness.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
melancholiac
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adjective
Feeling or showing deep, often thoughtful sadness.
“The film has a melancholic tone that lingers long after it ends.”
melancholiac
melancholy
Opposites
2. noun
A person who is habitually sad or given to melancholy.
“He was a natural melancholic, always seeing the gloomier side of things.”
melancholiac
Etymology
From Greek melankholikos, describing someone with a melancholic temperament — traditionally blamed on an excess of "black bile."
Full origin of melancholic →Frequently asked questions
What does “melancholic” mean?
The word “melancholic” means feeling or showing deep, often thoughtful sadness. In plain terms, sad in a quiet, reflective way, or a person prone to that kind of sadness.
How do you use “melancholic” in a sentence?
Here is “melancholic” used in a sentence: “The film has a melancholic tone that lingers long after it ends.”
What part of speech is “melancholic”?
Depending on how it is used, “melancholic” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “melancholic” come from?
The word “melancholic” comes from Greek. From Greek melankholikos, describing someone with a melancholic temperament — traditionally blamed on an excess of "black bile.".
How many meanings does “melancholic” have?
“Melancholic” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: feeling or showing deep, often thoughtful sadness.
