melancholic
adjective
mel·an·chol·ic ˌme-lən-ˈkä-lik 
1
: of, relating to, or subject to melancholy : depressed
2
: of or relating to melancholia
3
: tending to depress the spirits : saddening
melancholic noun
Synonyms
- bad
- blue
- brokenhearted
- cast down
- crestfallen
- dejected
- depressed
- despondent
- disconsolate
- doleful
- down
- down in the mouth
- downcast
- downhearted
- droopy
- forlorn
- gloomy
- glum
- hangdog
- heartbroken
- heartsick
- heartsore
- heavyhearted
- inconsolable
- joyless
- low
- low-spirited
- melancholy
- miserable
- mournful
- sad
- saddened
- sorrowful
- sorry
- unhappy
- woebegone
- woeful
- wretched
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
she becomes quite melancholic when she reflects on all the lost opportunities of her life
Recent Examples on the Web Beautiful lighting and water effects, coupled with a subdued, rusty color palette imbue the game with a lovely aesthetic that’s enriched by composer Joel Schoch’s restrained, melancholic soundtrack. 
Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2022 Filmmaker Christos Nikou — with a co-sign from executive producer Cate Blanchett — turns this melancholic sci-fi fable about a society struck by an ongoing amnesia pandemic into a quietly profound meditation on love and loss. Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 13 Aug. 2022 But as Francie’s home life becomes more chaotic—his glumly alcoholic father (Scott Stangland) treats Francie and his melancholic wife (Andrea Lynn Green) with a casual brutality—Francie begins to lash out in more destructive ways. Charles Isherwood, WSJ, 4 Aug. 2022 In its opening minutes, July’s ruminative voice-over warns the viewer of the Kraffts’ eventual deaths at the base of Japan’s Mount Unzen in 1991, casting a melancholic pall over the narrative to come. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 21 July 2022 His best songs boast a gentle melodicism and a warm, conversational vocal delivery, along with lyrics that can be melancholic one moment, whimsical the next. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 July 2022 While Nate and Herman dwell with difficulty on family history – in circular, if not stilted, conversations – the film itself is more romantically melancholic for the past. Dini Adanurani, Variety, 9 Aug. 2022 The result is a brooding and melancholic listening session that will get you all in your feelings, in a good way. Deanna Janes, Harper's BAZAAR, 8 Aug. 2022 Adele fans were in tears for another reason besides her gorgeous melancholic music when the singer abruptly canceled her Las Vegas residency just a day before it was set to go live. Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 4 July 2022 See More
Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2022 Filmmaker Christos Nikou — with a co-sign from executive producer Cate Blanchett — turns this melancholic sci-fi fable about a society struck by an ongoing amnesia pandemic into a quietly profound meditation on love and loss. Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 13 Aug. 2022 But as Francie’s home life becomes more chaotic—his glumly alcoholic father (Scott Stangland) treats Francie and his melancholic wife (Andrea Lynn Green) with a casual brutality—Francie begins to lash out in more destructive ways. Charles Isherwood, WSJ, 4 Aug. 2022 In its opening minutes, July’s ruminative voice-over warns the viewer of the Kraffts’ eventual deaths at the base of Japan’s Mount Unzen in 1991, casting a melancholic pall over the narrative to come. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 21 July 2022 His best songs boast a gentle melodicism and a warm, conversational vocal delivery, along with lyrics that can be melancholic one moment, whimsical the next. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 July 2022 While Nate and Herman dwell with difficulty on family history – in circular, if not stilted, conversations – the film itself is more romantically melancholic for the past. Dini Adanurani, Variety, 9 Aug. 2022 The result is a brooding and melancholic listening session that will get you all in your feelings, in a good way. Deanna Janes, Harper's BAZAAR, 8 Aug. 2022 Adele fans were in tears for another reason besides her gorgeous melancholic music when the singer abruptly canceled her Las Vegas residency just a day before it was set to go live. Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 4 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English malencolic, melancolyk "consisting of or caused by black bile, irascible, gloomy," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French melancolique, borrowed from Latin melancholicus, borrowed from Greek melancholikós, from melancholía "black bile, melancholy entry 1" + -ikos -ic entry 1
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Medical Definition
melancholic 1 of 2
adjective
mel·an·chol·ic ˌmel-ən-ˈkäl-ik
1
: of, relating to, or subject to melancholy : depressed
2
: of or relating to melancholia
melancholic
2 of 2noun
1
: a melancholy person
2
: melancholiac
melancholic
adjective
as in sad
feeling unhappiness she becomes quite melancholic when she reflects on all the lost opportunities of her life Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- sad
- depressed
- melancholy
- unhappy
- heartbroken
- miserable
- mournful
- sorrowful
- bad
- sorry
- upset
- worried
- gloomy
- doleful
- uneasy
- hopeless
- dejected
- forlorn
- disappointed
- troubled
- downcast
- disconsolate
- glum
- despondent
- joyless
- downhearted
- woebegone
- blue
- heartsick
- inconsolable
- depressing
- hangdog
- suicidal
- crestfallen
- heavyhearted
- saddened
- brokenhearted
- down
- droopy
- distressed
- woeful
- wretched
- heartsore
- cast down
- low-spirited
- low
- discouraged
- despairing
- grieving
- somber
- tearful
- aggrieved
- unquiet
- lugubrious
- bleak
- plaintive
- weeping
- morbid
- dispirited
- morose
- elegiac
- sunk
- dolorous
- lachrymose
- anguished
- regretful
- down in the mouth
- disheartened
- desolate
- rueful
- sullen
- dark
- cheerless
- funereal
- saturnine
- wailing
- gray
- agonized
- darkening
- sombre
- drear
- dreary
- black
- dismal
- comfortless
- murky
- grey
- elegiacal
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- joyous
- joyful
- cheerful
- upbeat
- buoyant
- blissful
- jubilant
- cheery
- euphoric
- exuberant
- gleeful
- happy
- sunny
- jovial
- rapturous
- rhapsodic
- ecstatic
- mirthful
- exultant
- jolly
- optimistic
- chipper
- rhapsodical
- merry
- buoyed
- glad
- jocular
- enraptured
- blithe
- jocose
- hopeful
- delighted
- jocund
- blithesome
- elated
- exhilarated
- sanguine
- lightsome
- energetic
- entranced
- overjoyed
- excited
- rosy
- gladsome
- spirited
- jaunty
- vivacious
- lively
- gladdened
- sprightly
- animated
- perky
- peppy
- smiling
- frisky
- lighthearted
- carefree
- vital
- springy
- thrilled
- careless
- content
- easygoing
- laughing
- satisfied
- bouncing
- encouraged
- zippy
- insouciant
- unconcerned
- grinning
- pleased
- cavalier
- gratified
- beaming
- heartened
- happy-go-lucky
- sprightful
- boon
- devil-may-care