adjective

melancholic

/ˌmɛlənˈkɒlɪk/ · say it: MEL·uhn·KAH·lik

showing a pensive sadness

In Emotions & Moods

In more detail

1. (adjective) feeling or expressing sadness, thoughtfulness, and a sense of loss

2. (adjective) causing or evoking a sad, reflective mood

Examples

1. After hearing the news, she fell into a melancholic state and barely spoke for days.
2. The melancholic melody of the violin moved everyone in the audience to tears.

How to use melancholic

Melancholic describes a gentle, reflective sadness rather than acute despair, often tinged with contemplation or nostalgia. It is commonly used in literary and artistic contexts to evoke a pensive, somewhat beautiful quality of sadness. Unlike 'depressed' or 'miserable', melancholic often carries an aesthetic or romantic dimension.

Common phrases

melancholic mood
melancholic tone
melancholic atmosphere
melancholic beauty
melancholic melody

Synonyms

sorrowful · pensive · wistful · doleful · dejected

Opposites

cheerful · buoyant · lighthearted

Word family

melancholy (noun, adjective) · melancholically (adverb)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use melancholic interchangeably with melancholy (the noun), but melancholic is primarily an adjective describing mood or tone, while melancholy can function as both noun and adjective with slightly different connotations.

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