droopy

American  

[droo-pee] / ˈdru pi /

adjective

droopier, droopiest

1. hanging down; sagging.

2. lacking in spirit or courage; disheartened; dejected.

   Synonyms:

   forlorn, subdued, depressed, doleful, downcast, downhearted, discouraged, despondent, dispirited

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droopy British  

/ ˈdruːpɪ /

adjective

1. hanging or sagging downwards

   a droopy moustache

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• droopiness
  noun
• droopily
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of droopy

First recorded in 1200–50, droopy is from the Middle English word drupi. See droop, -y ¹

Explanation

Something that's droopy flops or sags limply. A droopy plant might need water — or you might have watered it too much. Your dog might have adorably droopy ears, especially if he's a hound or a spaniel. You could also despair over your droopy hairdo, especially if you intended for it to spring up in curls instead of hanging limply down your back. You might also feel droopy after running a race on a hot day. The original meaning of droopy was "sad or gloomy," which most likely comes from the Old Norse drupr, "drooping spirits."

Example Sentences

William, who Rona chirpily informs us has “a rare mucous membrane disorder,” is happy to get “lugubrious”: “Meaning extremely sad and droopy? A topic I am all too familiar with.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 24, 2025

Then I woke up with a really droopy face and my eyes sort of wide open.

From BBC • Nov. 24, 2024

Malaska’s brushwork is at once vigorous, detailed and patterned, then loose and almost abstract or even droopy and distorted.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 24, 2023

The only trick that both Sandonato and Stevens vouched for is sticking a pin through the stem of droopy flowers about an inch below the bloom.

From Los Angeles Times • May 3, 2023

Her shoulders were droopy and her feet were turned in.

From "Feed" by M.T. Anderson