moody

¹ American  

[moo-dee] / ˈmu di /

adjective

moodier, moodiest

1. given to gloomy, depressed, or sullen moods; mood; ill-humored.

   Synonyms:

   brooding, morose, sulky

2. proceeding from or showing such a mood.

   a moody silence.

3. expressing or exhibiting sharply varying moods; mood; temperamental.

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Moody ² American  

[moo-dee] / ˈmu di /

noun

1. Dwight Lyman 1837–99, U.S. evangelist.

2. Helen Wills. Wills, Helen Newington.

3. William Vaughn 1869–1910, U.S. poet and playwright.

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moody ¹ British  

/ ˈmuːdɪ /

adjective

1. sullen, sulky, or gloomy

2. temperamental or changeable

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Moody ² British  

/ ˈmuːdɪ /

noun

1. Dwight Lyman. 1837–99, US evangelist and hymnodist, noted for his revivalist campaigns in Britain and the US with I. D. Sankey

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Other Word Forms

• moodily adverb
• moodiness noun
• unmoody adjective

Etymology

Origin of moody

before 900; Middle English mody, Old English mōdig. See mood ¹, -y ¹

Example Sentences

The film is so committed to its rigors — the two-person cast, the glacial camera pivots, the moody lighting — that it teeters on the line of becoming monotonous.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2026

A person may also become extremely confused and paranoid, easily upset, moody and irritable.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 3, 2026

Sombr lived up to his name with a moody looking, gothic red satin and black lace top complete with tailored red trousers.

From BBC • Feb. 28, 2026

Their collection featured grungy lace looks and leather-heavy co-ords, leaning on a colour palette that was moody and dark.

From BBC • Feb. 20, 2026

The movie and the music—a heavy, moody score—had already started.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu