melancholic
Given to gloom
Melancholic describes a temperament given to sadness, pensiveness, or gloom.
Someone melancholic dwells in low spirits without acute distress—more brooding than despairing: She grew melancholic as autumn set in.
The word carries a literary, almost romantic quality that distinguishes it from simply sad or depressed.
As a noun, a melancholic is a person of this temperament.
Filled with grief
- mournfulShowing or feeling grief
- wistfulSadly longing for something
- forlornSad and abandoned
- dejectedLow in spirits
despondent · doleful · somber · pensive · brooding · gloomy · heavy-hearted · downcast
Wistful yet warm
- nostalgicLonging for the past
- atmosphericOf the air above
- hauntingDisturbingly unforgettable
- evocativeTending to summon memories
tender · poignant · sentimental · wistful · yearning · longing · aching · romantic
Polish Romantic pianist-composer
- nocturneContemplative keyboard piece
- elegyPoem lamenting the departed
- KeatsEnglish Romantic poet
- ShelleyEnglish Romantic surname
Poe · chiaroscuro · minor key · autumnal · twilight · Pre-Raphaelite · Billie Holiday · fado
Inclined to deep thought
- reflectiveCasting back light
- thoughtfulShowing careful consideration
- meditativeInclined toward deep reflection
- ruminativeProne to prolonged reflection
soul-searching · philosophical · absorbed · preoccupied · musing · pondering · solemn · dreamy
Concerning bodily fluids
- phlegmaticUnemotionally calm, slow-reacting
- sanguineCheerfully optimistic temperament
- cholericEasily provoked to anger
- HippocraticOf ancient medicine's founder
disposition · temperamental · constitution · black bile · four humors · Galen · personality type · innate
sorrowful
Filled with grief
dejected · despondent · doleful · somber · pensive · brooding · gloomy · heavy-hearted · downcast · crestfallen
bittersweet
Wistful yet warm
- nostalgicLonging for the past
- atmosphericOf the air above
- hauntingDisturbingly unforgettable
evocative · tender · poignant · sentimental · wistful · yearning · longing · aching · romantic · ethereal
Chopin
Polish Romantic pianist-composer
Shelley · Poe · chiaroscuro · minor key · autumnal · twilight · Pre-Raphaelite · Billie Holiday · fado · blues
contemplative
Inclined to deep thought
- reflectiveCasting back light
- thoughtfulShowing careful consideration
- meditativeInclined toward deep reflection
ruminative · soul-searching · philosophical · absorbed · preoccupied · musing · pondering · solemn · dreamy · withdrawn
humoral
Concerning bodily fluids
- phlegmaticUnemotionally calm, slow-reacting
- sanguineCheerfully optimistic temperament
- cholericEasily provoked to anger
Hippocratic · disposition · temperamental · constitution · black bile · four humors · Galen · personality type · innate · characteristic
- moodshappy, sad, angry, anxious, excited
- personalitypersonality, trait, temperament, traits, character
- media descriptorsdramatic, thrilling, suspenseful, emotional, atmospheric
- nostalgianostalgia, nostalgic, memories, memory, remember
- personalitiesintrovert, optimist, extrovert, pessimist, idealist
- traitshonesty, ambitious, brave, calm, kindness
- melancholy moodState of pensive sorrow
- melancholy toneSorrowful expressive quality
- autumn melancholySadness evoked by fall
- melancholic tonePervading sense of sorrow