Words / C2

m-uh-ROHS/məˈrəʊs/

Morose means sullen, unhappy, and silent: a morose silence, morose about the vote. Miserable is everyday and wider; sullen is a close cousin. Morose is mood, not a clinical diagnosis. Do not call a careful, quiet professional morose.

Meaning

Bad-tempered, unhappy, and silent.

Examples

• “A morose silence after the vote was not the same as agreement.”
• “A morose hush after the vote was not minuted as agreement.”
• “Sullen is close; miserable can still talk. A quiet marker is not morose. Keep it for bad-tempered gloom.”

Good to know

Sullenly gloomy. Close: sullen. Everyday: miserable (wider). Not professional quiet, and not a diagnosis.

Near in meaning

sullen

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