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

Some are not easily translatable between languages: Germans use “Weltschmerz” to refer to a feeling of melancholy caused by the state of the world.

From Scientific American

Many of Untitled Goose Game’s relatively young players are, it seems fair to assume, suffering from a sense of Weltschmerz.

From The New Yorker

With its impressionistic opening giving way to sweeping melodies, the work has an appealing throwback glamour with touches of Mahlerian Weltschmerz and just a hint of jazzy swing.

From New York Times

Her expression remains neutral even when touching on incendiary topics such as police brutality or when answering obtuse questions from white people as though to indicate a certain Weltschmerz.

From Salon

“I’m not into the mood of Weltschmerz,” he says, using the German word for world weariness that describes how many are feeling these days.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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