Melancholy: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Melancholy noun. A deep, lingering sadness, often with no obvious cause.
How to say it
MEL-un-kol-ee/ˈmɛlənkɒli/
4 syllables, stressed on the first (MEL).
Melancholy in a sentence
A gentle melancholy settles over the seaside town once the summer visitors leave.
Rain drumming on the skylight always put him in a mood of melancholy.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- sorrow
- gloom
- wistfulness
- despondency
Opposite:
- cheerfulness
- joy
Where melancholy comes from
From Greek melankholia, black bile, once thought to cause low moods.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
Rain drumming on the skylight always put him in a mood of _____.
- melancholy
- euphoria
- rapture
Show the answer
melancholy: Rain drumming on the skylight always put him in a mood of melancholy.