Melancholy synonym,synonyms of melancholy

Similarity: Both "melancholy" and "sadness" refer to a state of unhappiness or sorrow. They describe an emotional condition where a person feels down or dejected. For example, a person might feel melancholy or sadness after the loss of a loved one.
Usage difference: "Melancholy" often implies a more profound, lingering, and perhaps even a bit more introspective form of sadness. It has a sense of being wrapped up in one's own sorrow, with a touch of pensiveness. "Sadness" is more of a general term for the feeling of being unhappy. It can be used to describe a wide range of negative emotions from mild to intense. "She was overcome with sadness" can describe a momentary or more short-lived feeling, while "He had a sense of melancholy that seemed to follow him everywhere" suggests a more persistent and deep-seated emotion.

Similarity: "Gloom" and "melancholy" both convey a sense of darkness and heaviness in mood. They can both be used to describe a state where a person's outlook is negative and there is a lack of brightness or cheer. For instance, a rainy day might create a feeling of gloom or melancholy.
Usage difference: "Gloom" often has more to do with the atmosphere or the external environment that gives rise to a negative mood. It can also describe a physical state of darkness or dimness. When we say a room is filled with gloom, we're talking about the physical darkness and the associated feeling of heaviness. "Melancholy" is more focused on the emotional state of a person. It's about the internal feeling of sadness and pensiveness. You can be in a gloomy place and feel melancholy, but the two words have different primary focuses.

Similarity: "Depression" and "melancholy" are both related to low emotional states. They can both involve feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of energy or motivation. In some cases, a person experiencing melancholy might also be said to be in a state of mild depression.
Usage difference: "Depression" is a more serious and clinical term. It often implies a more severe and prolonged state of mental and emotional distress that can have a significant impact on a person's daily life, including their sleep, appetite, and ability to function. "Melancholy" is more of an emotional mood or feeling that may not have the same level of severity or disruption. A person can feel melancholy from time to time without being clinically depressed. For example, someone might have a bout of melancholy after a bad day at work, but depression would involve a more sustained and debilitating set of symptoms.

Similarity: "Sorrow" and "melancholy" are both associated with feelings of pain and unhappiness due to loss or misfortune. They both express a deep sense of grief or sadness. For example, the death of a pet can cause both sorrow and melancholy.
Usage difference: "Sorrow" often emphasizes the emotional pain and suffering that comes from a specific cause, like the loss of a loved one or a tragic event. It's more about the reaction to a particular incident. "Melancholy" can be more of a general, ongoing state of sadness that may not be tied to a specific event. It can be a more abstract, lingering feeling. "The sorrow of losing her father was overwhelming" focuses on the specific pain of the loss, while "He carried a sense of melancholy with him, as if he was always a bit sad" describes a more general, continuous emotional state.

Similarity: "Despondency" and "melancholy" both involve a sense of discouragement and low spirits. They describe a state where a person feels downcast and without hope. If someone is in a state of melancholy, they might also experience feelings of despondency.
Usage difference: "Despondency" often implies a stronger sense of hopelessness and a giving up of hope. It's a more extreme form of negative emotion compared to melancholy. "Melancholy" can have a more gentle, reflective quality. A person in despondency might feel completely defeated and without any motivation to change their situation, while someone who is melancholy might still have some glimmers of hope or the ability to find some small sources of comfort. For example, "He was in a state of despondency after losing his job and not being able to find a new one for months", while "She had a touch of melancholy as she thought about the past, but she wasn't completely without hope for the future".