variants
also elegiacal
as in depressing
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer
the sight of an old ruined church or castle can be a pleasantly elegiac experience
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of elegiac
Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 1 Feb. 2025
The Substance’s conclusion is anything but elegiac, however.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 8 Jan. 2025
But as Tanaka’s melodramatic and elegiac film shows us, beauty often comes from the most unexpected places.
—Barry Levitt, Vulture, 4 Apr. 2024
Many awards forecasters had the elegiac anthem pegged as a frontrunner for the Best Original Song award.
—EW.com, 18 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for elegiac
Adjective
Considering recent, breakneck attempts to gut civil rights, director Brittany Shyne’s debut feature — which won the U.S. documentary prize at the Sundance Film Festival — feels elegiac.
—Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 1 Feb. 2025
The Substance’s conclusion is anything but elegiac, however.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 8 Jan. 2025
But as Tanaka’s melodramatic and elegiac film shows us, beauty often comes from the most unexpected places.
—Barry Levitt, Vulture, 4 Apr. 2024
Many awards forecasters had the elegiac anthem pegged as a frontrunner for the Best Original Song award.
—EW.com, 18 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for elegiac
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elegiac
Adjective
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Some people thought that was too depressing or whatever.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
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Many learned the depressing answer only when trying to scan badges and getting rejected by security, which treated them more or less like trespassers.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Mindfulness mediates the association between chronotype and depressive symptoms in young adults.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
21 Mar. 2025
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There are four basic types of the disorder, which are characterized by periods of elation and hyper-activity known as manic episodes, which are then followed by depressive stages where the patient experiences feelings of sadness and depression.—
Vanessa Etienne,
People.com,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
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In fact, the opening moments play out like an elegy for the whole nation: a school boarded up, with empty corridors and empty classrooms.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
20 Feb. 2025
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As photographed by Austin Shelton, the widescreen images — and even the vertical TikTok videos braided alongside — convey a hopeful vision of their future, more fresh start than elegy.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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According to studies conducted by the National Institutes of Health since the 1960s, obesity rates nationwide have tripled, while morbid obesity has increased some 10 times throughout the same period.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Mar. 2025
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In pulling off the balance between the morbid premise and the humanity of the character afflicted by it, director Rashida Jones relies on Erivo’s ability to get across the panic and dread of the situation with the subtlest of brush strokes.—
Sezin Koehler,
EW.com,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
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This eatery at the summit of Cannon’s tramway offers cafeteria food, grab-and-go options, and, most notably, the highest-elevation beer taps in the state of New Hampshire.—
Sarah Cahalan,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Dec. 2024
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This lack of resolution taps into the brain’s natural drive for cognitive closure, which according to 2014 study, is the innate desire to resolve ambiguity and make sense of unfinished experiences.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Wheat roots and seeds from palms and barley found alongside the bodies offer glimpses of the agricultural history and funereal practices of the Sohag region.—
Eli Wizevich,
Smithsonian Magazine,
21 Mar. 2025
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Never mind that, by an accident of political timing, so many theater creatives as well as so much of the audience is feeling funereal.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
24 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Returnal Returnal was one of the first exclusives of the PS5 generation; a fabulously grotesque sci-fi horror dirge, and still worth your attention today.—
Luke Winkie,
Vulture,
1 Apr. 2025
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When the relatives begin to arrive, crawling in on their knees, droning a dirge about death, Shula promptly departs for a hotel, pink suitcase in tow.—
Namwali Serpell,
The New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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And then obviously in between that, either dropping my kid off at school or picking my kid up or hanging out, going to the park or something like that in some of those gaps, but that’s a very happy day, very chill, humbling day (Laughs).—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Apr. 2025
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People are going to be very chill and normal, like the internet always is.—
Kathleen Newman-Bremang,
refinery29.com,
10 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Elegiac.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elegiac. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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