Weltschmerz

or welt·schmerz

[ velt-shmerts ]

noun

, German.

1. sorrow that one feels and accepts as one's necessary portion in life; sentimental pessimism.

Weltschmerz

/ ˈvɛltʃmɛrts /

noun

1. sadness or melancholy at the evils of the world; world-weariness

Word History and Origins

Origin of Weltschmerz¹

First recorded in 1860–65; literally, “world-pain,” from Welt world ( def ) + Schmerz “pain”; smart ( def ) (in the sense “pain”)

Word History and Origins

Origin of Weltschmerz¹

literally: world pain

Example Sentences

Have the Zeitgeist and the Weltschmerz and the other things compared to which ‘le spleen’ was gay, done so much for us?

From Project Gutenberg

The work which is presented in the following pages is intended to be a modest contribution to the natural history of Weltschmerz.

From Project Gutenberg

This is entirely compatible with the definition of Weltschmerz which has been attempted above.

From Project Gutenberg

The second bearing which his relations to Louise have upon his Weltschmerz lies in the fact that his love ended in disappointment.

From Project Gutenberg

Hence the difference between the pessimism of Ibsen and the romantic Weltschmerz of these uncritical minds.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• agony
• apprehension
• dread
• misgiving
• nervousness
• uneasiness