Definition

1. Noun:
   • The state or quality of being moody: The condition of having frequent and unpredictable changes in one's emotional state or disposition.
   • A sullen or gloomy feeling: A persistent state of melancholy, irritability, or low spirits.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • His moodiness made it difficult for his colleagues to predict his reactions.
  • She apologized for her moodiness, blaming it on a lack of sleep.
  • A wave of moodiness came over him after hearing the disappointing news.

Advanced Usage

• "to be prone to moodiness": to have a tendency to experience frequent changes in mood.
  • Teenagers are often prone to moodiness due to hormonal changes.
• "a fit of moodiness": a sudden, temporary period of being sullen or irritable.
  • He was in a fit of moodiness and didn't want to talk to anyone.

Variants and Related Words

• Moody (adj): Given to changes in mood; often gloomy or sullen.
  • He has a moody temperament.
• Mood (n): A temporary state of mind or feeling.
  • She is in a good mood today.

Synonyms

• Sullenness: A gloomy or ill-tempered silence.
• Melancholy: A feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause.
• Irritability: The quality of being easily annoyed or angered.

Related Phrases

• "subject to moodiness": likely to experience changes in mood.
  • The artist was known to be subject to moodiness, which influenced his work.

Related Idioms

• "To have a black cloud hanging over one": To be in a persistently gloomy or depressed mood. (This idiom conveys a similar feeling to intense moodiness.)
  • Ever since he lost his job, he's had a black cloud hanging over him.

Noun

1. having temperamental and changeable moods
2. a sullen gloomy feeling