melancholic
Melancholic (adjective) means feeling or showing deep, often thoughtful sadness. Example: “The film has a melancholic tone that lingers long after it ends.”
How to use melancholic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSad in a quiet, reflective way, or a person prone to that kind of sadness.
"Melancholic" is the adjective describing a person or mood; "melancholy" can be either the adjective or the noun for the sadness itself.
Word forms
more melancholic comparative, melancholics plural, most melancholic superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The film has a _____ tone that lingers long after it ends.
Etymology
From Greek melankholikos, describing someone with a melancholic temperament — traditionally blamed on an excess of "black bile."
Synonyms
View more →Rhymes for melancholic
See all rhymes for 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.