Morose
mediumNegative tonemuh-ROHS
adjective
Definition
sullen and gloomy; ill-tempered
Memory hook
MOROSE sounds like 'more woes': someone who keeps piling on MORE woes, sinking deeper into gloom and never cheering up.
Word roots
Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.
Examples
“After the loss, he sat morose in the corner, refusing to speak to anyone.”
“The morose innkeeper barely grunted a greeting before disappearing into the back room.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“After the loss, he sat ______ in the corner, refusing to speak to anyone.”
Show answer
morose
Synonyms
Antonyms
Categories
GRE Tip
Morose is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "sullen" or "gloomy" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "cheerful".
Related GRE Words
saturnine
gloomy, sullen, or grimly serious in temperament
contrite
feeling deep remorse for wrongdoing; repentant
diffidence
Lack of confidence in oneself; shyness or modesty
ebullient
overflowing with enthusiasm and high spirits
murky
Dark and gloomy; not clear or transparent; unclear
ambivalent
Having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something
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