mopish

A child sits looking mopish after losing a game.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Dejected or low-spirited: "mopish" describes a state of being sad, gloomy, or listless, often with a tendency to be silent or withdrawn. It implies a mood of dull melancholy or sullenness.
   • Given to moping: "mopish" characterizes a person who is habitually inclined to be in a downcast or apathetic state, lacking energy or enthusiasm.

Usage Examples

• (He appeared sad and withdrawn.)
• (Her face reflected a dejected mood.)
• (The weather caused a feeling of low spirits and listlessness.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be in a mopish mood": to experience a temporary state of sadness or sullenness.
  • He was in a mopish mood all morning, refusing to join the conversation. (He was feeling dejected and silent.)
• "a mopish silence": a quietness that stems from melancholy or displeasure.
  • The room fell into a mopish silence after the bad news was announced. (The quietness was heavy with gloom.)

Variants and Related Words

• Mopishness (n): the quality or state of being mopish; dejection.
  • His mopishness was evident in his slumped posture and lack of response. (His state of dejection was clear.)
• Mopishly (adv): in a mopish manner; with gloom or listlessness.
  • She walked mopishly through the park, ignoring the cheerful surroundings. (She moved with a sad, withdrawn air.)
• Mope (v): to be in a state of dull dejection or listlessness.
  • He tends to mope around the house when he is bored. (He moves about in a sad, inactive way.)
• Mopey (adj): similar to mopish; inclined to mope.
  • She felt mopey after the long flight. (She felt low-spirited.)

Synonyms

• Dejected: sad and depressed; dispirited.
• Gloomy: dark or poorly lit, especially in a way that suggests sadness; also, feeling sad.
• Listless: lacking energy or enthusiasm; lethargic.
• Sullen: bad-tempered and sulky; gloomy.
• Melancholy: a deep, persistent sadness.

Phrasal Verbs

• (No direct phrasal verbs with "mopish"; related verb "mope" has phrasal forms.)
  • Mope about/around: to move or act in a dejected, listless manner.

    • He spent the whole afternoon moping about the house. (He moved around in a sad, inactive way.)
  • Mope over: to dwell on something in a sad or gloomy way.

    • She moped over the lost opportunity for days. (She continued to feel sad about it.)

Related Idioms

• In the doldrums: in a state of depression or low spirits.
  • He has been in the doldrums since his project failed. (He has been feeling mopish and dejected.)
• Down in the mouth: visibly sad or dispirited.
  • She looked down in the mouth after hearing the news. (She appeared mopish and gloomy.)
• Wear a long face: to have an expression of sadness or disappointment.
  • He wore a long face throughout the meeting, showing his mopish mood. (His face revealed his dejection.)