What does morose mean?
Morose describes a person who is sullen, gloomy, and noticeably out of sorts, or a situation that has a similarly depressing quality. The word often suggests more than ordinary sadness: a morose person may be ill-tempered, withdrawn, and unwilling to engage with others. It can also describe an atmosphere or outlook, as in a morose economy or a morose atmosphere. Morose is used in both British and American English and is generally more formal than words such as grumpy or glum. Its historical connection to ideas of custom and established behaviour gives it a slightly old-fashioned, literary character, but it remains a precise and useful term when a description needs to convey a sustained combination of gloom and bad temper.
adjectiveSullen and gloomy, especially in a way that suggests a bad temper or unwillingness to be cheerful. It can also describe an atmosphere or prospect that seems depressing.
- Sullen, gloomy, and marked by an unhappy or uncommunicative disposition.
- Describing an atmosphere, situation, or prospect that is depressing or lacking in cheerfulness.
"After the meeting, he was morose and said little to anyone."
"The loss of the championship left the supporters in a morose mood."
"Economic uncertainty has made the outlook for small businesses increasingly morose."
Morose comes from the Latin word morosus, meaning peevish or sullen: the word has long carried the mood of someone whose spirits have soured.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
Related word forms
How morose is actually used
Morose is a neutral but rather formal word. It suggests a combination of sadness, bad temper, and withdrawal, and is often stronger than simply describing someone as sad.