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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in depressed
feeling unhappiness
they were a bit melancholy after their youngest child left for college
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in sadness
a state or spell of low spirits
the bleakness of winter sometimes gives me cause for melancholy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of melancholy
Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 29 Apr. 2026
The specific kind of melancholy that only exists between Halloween and the first real snow.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 29 Apr. 2026
David John Chávez, Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2026
Fanning’s name was the first called when nominations were announced, signaling that Scandinavian melancholy would be notably absent that morning.
—Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for melancholy
Adjective
But there’s also something pleasingly and realistically melancholy about The Devil Wears Prada 2.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 29 Apr. 2026
The specific kind of melancholy that only exists between Halloween and the first real snow.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
This is not to say the play is 95 minutes of melancholy.
—David John Chávez, Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2026
Fanning’s name was the first called when nominations were announced, signaling that Scandinavian melancholy would be notably absent that morning.
—Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for melancholy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for melancholy
Adjective
-
The failure of so many in the political world to speak up displays a sad and growing moral bankruptcy.—
Bobby Zirkin,
Baltimore Sun,
14 May 2026
-
Don’t be sad — this is not a farewell forever.—
Denni Hu,
Footwear News,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
Christophe is the spry, imaginative middle child to a stern farmer dad in an economically depressed countryside.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
19 May 2026
-
Postpartum depression, per Mayo Clinic, includes symptoms such as depressed mood, difficulty bonding with your baby, changes in appetite, intense irritability and more.—
Raven Brunner,
PEOPLE,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
Some of these requirements include free and fair elections, the rule of law, an independent judiciary, equal rights, separation of powers, accountability of leaders, political pluralism, a free press, majority rule tempered by minority rights and thoughtful citizen participation.—
Steven D. Reske,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2026
-
The always eminently watchable Rebecca Hall (The Man I Love, TV’s The Beauty) both anchors and buoys the tonally irregular but consistently thoughtful and compelling sci-fi comedy-drama The End of It, a feature debut for Catalan writer-director Maria Martinez Bayona.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
24 May 2026
Noun
-
Despite the overwhelming sense of sadness at the track, NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell never considered postponing the race.—
Steve Reed,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2026
-
People are preoccupied with everyday work stress, day-to-day sadness, and the like.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2026
Adjective
-
Some sendoffs are mundane; others are downright depressing.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
-
Zvyagintsev loves a red herring almost as much as a cosmically depressing visual joke, like the tiny picture of Putin hanging over a boardroom.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
Russian military boggers have a lot to be unhappy about.—
David Hambling,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
-
But affordability concerns have left many Americans unhappy about the economy, which could lead to major political ramifications for the midterm elections.—
Lucy Bayly,
CNN Money,
22 May 2026
Adjective
-
The fabric carries a soft, almost reflective sheen, lending the silhouette a sense of movement even at rest.—
Tiana Randall,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
-
And then an older, more mature, more reflective Kyle Busch spoke to FS1 after the race.—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
22 May 2026
Noun
-
Tropical systems tracked by the National Hurricane Center will be classified as depressions, tropical storms and hurricanes based on their intensity.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 May 2026
-
That alone is enough to barrel me into even more depression.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Melancholy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/melancholy. Accessed 27 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
