mopey

or mop·y

[ moh-pee ]

/ ˈmoʊ pi /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: mopey / mopier / mopiest on Thesaurus.com

adjective, mop·i·er, mop·i·est.

languishing, listless, droopy, or glum.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of mopey

First recorded in 1820–30; mope + -y¹

OTHER WORDS FROM mopey

mop·i·ness, noun

Words nearby mopey

mopboard, mope, moped, mopery, mopes, mopey, mopish, mopoke, mopper-up, moppet, mopping-up

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT MOPEY

What does mopey mean?

Someone who is mopey lacks vigor or spirit. They might feel glum, discouraged, or joyless.

When your best friend goes away for the summer, leaving you with no one to hang out with and you feel lonely or sad, you might say you feel mopey. You might not want to hang out with your other friends or you may not feel like doing some of your favorite things. Or you might do them, but not with energy or a lot of enjoyment. You’re feeling mopey.

Example: Juan looked pretty mopey after the exam, so I don’t think it went too well.

Where does mopey come from?

The first records of the term mopey come from around the 1820s. It combines the term mope, meaning “to sulk or brood,” and the suffix –y, which creates adjectives meaning “characterized by.”

Mopey is sometimes used for situations that make someone sad but that they or others think are minor situations not worth getting so sad about. People will often be called mopey when others believe they are upset for little to no reason. Yet feelings are spontaneous responses. We can’t control how we feel, only how we express our feelings. If you’re feeling mopey, doing something that helps you express your sadness, such as listening to sad music, can help you express your mopiness and move beyond it. Doing something that you enjoy can also help you get through your mopiness.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to mopey?

mopiness (noun)

What are some synonyms for mopey?

What are some words that share a root or word element with mopey?

mope
mop

What are some words that often get used in discussing mopey?

How is mopey used in real life?

Mopey is used in casual speech and writing to describe someone who appears listless or sulky.

I hate how mopey I can get at night. Think I just miss having someone to say goodnight to. Roomba never says it back. He just INHALES LOUDLY

— Miles Luna (he/him) (@TheMilesLuna) March 15, 2017

If my mopey son becomes a dark lord I'd convert to the dark side, too. Then he'd switch back because it's not cool anymore. #Parenting101

— Tim Siedell (@badbanana) December 24, 2015

Got a lot of writing still to do tonight and feeling a bit mopey. Tweet me a joke, a cat pic or tell me I'm nice please.

— Louise (@LouisePentland) December 9, 2016

Try using mopey!

Which of the following is NOT a synonym for mopey?

A. despondent
B. pleased
C. glum
D. morose