melancholic

adjective

mel·​an·​chol·​ic ˌme-lən-ˈkä-lik How to pronounce melancholic (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or subject to melancholy : depressed
2
: of or relating to melancholia
3
: tending to depress the spirits : saddening
melancholic noun

Examples of melancholic in a Sentence

she becomes quite melancholic when she reflects on all the lost opportunities of her life
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Renditions of those melancholic hymns, which often told of homesickness and heartbreak, played from a speaker in the courtyard. Chris Schalkx, Travel + Leisure, 23 Feb. 2025 But as writers, Basden and Key avoid toothless syrupy sentiments all the same, and handle the melancholic resolution of Herb and Nell’s story in a masterful and realistic way that rings true to the heart. Tomris Laffly, Variety, 27 Jan. 2025 The artist painted it during his blue period, when his work was dominated by melancholic shades of blue and green—a change that followed the death of his close friend, Carlos Casagemas. X-ray and infrared scans revealed that Picasso had painted over the woman’s portrait. Ella Jeffries, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Feb. 2025 The sound of colored pencils leads to the next shot: the nurse, getting out of a car, looking somewhat sad or melancholic—we’re not sure. Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 3 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for melancholic

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of melancholic was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Melancholic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/melancholic. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

Medical Definition

melancholic

1 of 2 adjective
mel·​an·​chol·​ic ˌmel-ən-ˈkäl-ik How to pronounce melancholic (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or subject to melancholy : depressed
2
: of or relating to melancholia

melancholic

2 of 2 noun
1
: a melancholy person
2

More from Merriam-Webster on melancholic

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