Morose
Rainy Sundays, certain album deep cuts, and teenagers who are fine but not fine all carry this muted gray mood.
Learn This WordMeaning
Sullen and gloomy; ill-tempered and withdrawn.
Memory trick
MOROSE sounds like "more woes", full of woes and gloom.
Examples
After the setback, he became quiet and morose for a few days.
The film’s morose tone matched its bleak setting.
Don’t mistake her focused silence for a morose mood.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
From Latin morosus "peevish, fretful," from mos/moris "custom, manner."
Usage Notes
Often describes mood or demeanor with a heavier tone than simple sadness.
Real-life contexts
Use in tone feedback: "The intro feels a bit morose for this audience."
Use in storytelling: "A morose protagonist can still be compelling."
Use carefully in people descriptions; it can sound judgmental.
Common Mistakes
Morose is about gloomy irritability, not clinical depression.
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Start LearningQuick Facts
Part of Speech
adjective
Difficulty
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