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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Marked by moody, lo-fi production, the group’s intense sophomore album explores the duality of despair and hope.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
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
Other fans sought out the BBC Introducing Stage to shelter in the shade and listen to emerging acts like Lanarkshire quintet Tanzana and their moody, atmospheric rock.
From BBC ● Jun. 20, 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
But Moody said she would "sleep easier" knowing he would pay for his crimes.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
Peter Moody's daughter Joanne Moody, 48, who is expected to join other families wronged by Bush in the court's public gallery, said: "It's broke me, it's crucified me. He has shown no remorse. No sympathy."
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
“Slate has done something smart,” said auto industry analyst Brian Moody.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026
Moody would never remember crossing the street, or propping his bike in the front walkway, or introducing himself.
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
“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
He even looked younger, swapping his clean-shaven exuberance for a moodier vibe, crooning ballads beneath a cap and shades that hid his face.
From BBC ● Aug. 2, 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
The weather’s grown moodier since I fell asleep.
From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy
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
He liked her even in her moodiest moments.
From Never-Fail Blake by Stringer, Arthur
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.
