adjective

morose

/məˈroʊs/ · say it: muh·ROHSS

gloomy and ill-tempered

In Personality & Character

sullen and gloomy

In Emotions & Moods

In more detail

1. (adjective) gloomy, bad-tempered, and unwilling to talk or smile

2. (adjective) dark or gloomy in appearance or character

Examples

1. He had a morose expression on his face after losing the game.
2. The morose weather made everyone want to stay indoors.

How to use morose

Morose describes a persistent, habitual gloominess and withdrawn demeanor, often emphasizing bad-temperedness and reluctance to engage socially. It carries a stronger sense of deliberate unfriendliness than synonyms like melancholy (which can be more reflective) or gloomy (which focuses on atmosphere). It is used for both people's personalities and their momentary states.

Common phrases

morose expression
morose mood
morose temperament
morose silence
morose disposition

Synonyms

sullen · gloomy · taciturn · dour · melancholy

Opposites

cheerful · jovial · sociable

Word family

morosely (adverb) · moroseness (noun)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse morose with amorous, which sounds similar but means in love or showing sexual desire.

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