morose

[ muh-rohs ]

adjective

1. gloomily or sullenly ill-humored, as a person or mood.

   Synonyms: surly, sulky, sour, moody

   Antonyms: cheerful

2. characterized by or expressing gloom.

morose

/ məˈrəʊs /

adjective

1. ill-tempered or gloomy

Derived Forms

• moˈroseness, noun
• moˈrosely, adverb

Other Words From

• mo·rose·ly adverb
• mo·rose·ness mo·ros·i·ty [m, uh, -, ros, -i-tee], noun
• su·per·mo·rose adjective
• su·per·mo·rose·ness noun
• un·mo·rose adjective
• un·mo·rose·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of morose¹

First recorded in 1555–65; from Latin mōrōsus “fretful, peevish, willful,” equivalent to mōr- (stem of mōs ) “will, inclination” + -ōsus adjective suffix ( -ose ¹ )

Word History and Origins

Origin of morose¹

C16: from Latin mōrōsus peevish, capricious, from mōs custom, will, caprice

Synonym Study

See glum.

Example Sentences

If you don't do that, you end up in a place that is morose and in some strange way, addicted to cortisol.

From Salon

As sad as the permanently morose seem, they do not even ridicule those who laugh, but those who find joy in their lives.

From Salon

"On comes Holland, a camera following him from backstage. He’s tearful, morose, muttering. He’s a very sad boy in a tight white vest," Bano wrote.

From BBC

And on a structural level, the storytelling of “IF” itself is a mess: a heartfelt but dramatically inert endeavor that whipsaws between tones ranging from whimsical to morose.

From Los Angeles Times

Which is an apropos descriptor for the Mariners’ morose matinee, an 11-1 loss to the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on Thursday.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• cranky
• dour
• gloomy
• glum
• grouchy
• melancholy
• mournful
• sad
• sullen
• surly
• testy
• ugly