noun

melancholy

/ˈmeləŋkəli/ · say it: MEL·uh·n·kol·ee

a thoughtful, gentle sadness

In Emotions & Moods

In more detail

1. (noun) a feeling of sadness, gloom, or depression

2. (adjective) feeling or expressing sadness and gloom

Examples

1. A sense of melancholy filled her heart after her friend moved away.
2. The melancholy music reminded him of lost love.

How to use melancholy

Melancholy describes a thoughtful, reflective sadness rather than acute distress or despair. It often carries literary or poetic connotations and suggests a somewhat dignified or contemplative sorrow, distinguishing it from bleaker terms like despair. It is commonly used in artistic, philosophical, or romantic contexts.

Common phrases

melancholy mood
melancholy atmosphere
melancholy expression
fit of melancholy
deeply melancholy

Synonyms

sadness · gloom · despondency · dejection · sorrow

Opposites

joy · cheerfulness · gaiety

Word family

melancholic · melancholically · melancholia

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse melancholy with depression, but melancholy is typically milder and more transient, often valued aesthetically in music and literature, whereas depression implies a clinical condition.

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