melancholy
4 synonyms and 9 antonyms for melancholy, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A deep, thoughtful sadness, often tinged with nostalgia.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
A deep, thoughtful sadness, often tinged with nostalgia.
“A gentle melancholy settled over her as she packed up the old house.”
black bile
Opposites
How to use melancholy
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
a melancholy mood
tinged with melancholy
Etymology
From Greek melankholia ("black bile") — ancient medicine believed an excess of this bodily humor caused sadness and gloom.
Full origin of melancholy →Frequently asked questions
What does “melancholy” mean?
The word “melancholy” means a deep, thoughtful sadness, often tinged with nostalgia. In plain terms, a soft, lingering sadness — more wistful than sharp grief.
How do you pronounce “melancholy”?
“Melancholy” is pronounced MEH-luhn-kuh-lee (/ˈmɛl.ənˌkɑ.li/ in IPA).
How do you use “melancholy” in a sentence?
Here is “melancholy” used in a sentence: “A gentle melancholy settled over her as she packed up the old house.”
What part of speech is “melancholy”?
Depending on how it is used, “melancholy” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “melancholy” come from?
The word “melancholy” comes from Greek. From Greek melankholia ("black bile") — ancient medicine believed an excess of this bodily humor caused sadness and gloom.
Is “melancholy” a common word?
“Melancholy” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.
How many meanings does “melancholy” have?
“Melancholy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a deep, thoughtful sadness, often tinged with nostalgia.
