Dwight Lyman 1837–99, U.S. evangelist.
Helen Wills. Wills, Helen Newington.
William Vaughn 1869–1910, U.S. poet and playwright.
sullen, sulky, or gloomy
temperamental or changeable
before 900; Middle English mody, Old English mōdig. See mood 1, -y 1
If you're in a bad mood, especially when you were in a pretty good mood this morning, you can say you're moody. A moody person's emotions change unpredictably and often. Someone with erratic moods is moody — you could also call them temperamental or changeable. If you describe a painting or a piece of music as moody, you probably mean that it has a dark, gloomy nature. A moody play, for example, might be a little depressing, or at least melancholy. Moody, from the Old English modig, began by meaning "arrogant or proud," and around the late sixteenth century became "subject to gloomy spells."
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Two years ago, Sugar began as a stylish and moody homage to the black-and-white films of the 1940s and ’50s.
From Slate ● Jun. 30, 2026
Over the past few years, however, he has become moody and unwilling to help her.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 30, 2026
The marvelous Master Chorale marvelously set the moody scene for triumph.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 9, 2026
On a murky and moody Thursday at Lord's, Robinson rose to the challenge.
From BBC ● Jun. 4, 2026
My bionic Lobot ears could hear Mom saying: “But what is with you lately, Via? You’re moody and taciturn and secretive. . . .”
From "Wonder" by R. J. Palacio
Moody said Bush's guilty pleas had brought her some peace of mind.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
Richard Moody, chief economist at Regions Financial, said the task force might end up making recommendations about improvements to U.S. statistical agencies.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 9, 2026
For used EVs, “this incentive helps what’s already a good deal become an even better deal,” said auto analyst Brian Moody.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 3, 2026
Moody paid tribute to George "Doddie" Weir, who played for the Red Bulls and died from MND in 2022.
From BBC ● Jun. 14, 2026
Did Pearl know yet, Moody wondered, but they’d barely spoken since their falling out, and he retreated to his room and did his best not to wonder what Pearl was doing.
From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng
But if fresh tomatoes are summer’s darling, sun-dried tomatoes are their moodier, more savory cousin.
From Salon ● Jun. 11, 2026
"He's moodier," she says, adding he spends more time playing video games than before.
From BBC ● Jan. 9, 2026
“Midnights,” from 2022, was a little moodier than 2024’s “The Tortured Poets Department,” which was a little wordier than its predecessor, but both operated within a relatively narrow template.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2025
Based on the books of Ann Cleeves, whose work is also the basis for the even moodier, broodier series “Shetland,” “Vera” is a cerebral, as opposed to violent or troubling, crime drama.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 9, 2025
Besides, the navigator has been moodier than usual.
From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman
He works through his grandfather’s illness and eventual demise on “God Laughs,” the moodiest and most haunting song of the project.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 16, 2022
The album, their third and moodiest, was a distinct, post-punk swerve away from the hip-hop and breakbeat culture they had championed in Bristol.
From The Guardian ● Feb. 17, 2019
I would call wine the moodiest drink you could possibly imagine.
From New York Times ● Oct. 30, 2015
Chugging guitars set the tone for the rest of the album, which is their moodiest and most energetic since the reunion with Sprout.
From Time ● Feb. 21, 2014
Her fascination soothed the savage Peter in his moodiest hours.
From Incidents of Travel in Greece, Turkey, Russia, and Poland, 7th ed. Vol. 2 of 2 by Stephens, John Lloyd
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
