What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Melancholy vs Misanthrope - What's the difference?

melancholy | misanthrope |

As nouns the difference between melancholy and misanthrope

is that melancholy is (historical) black bile, formerly thought to be one of the four "cardinal humours" of animal bodies while misanthrope is one who hates all mankind; one who hates the human race.

As an adjective melancholy

is affected with great sadness or depression.

melancholy

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Affected with great sadness or depression.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Ben Travers), title=(A Cuckoo in the Nest)
    • , chapter=1 citation , passage=“[…] the awfully hearty sort of Christmas cards that people do send to other people that they don't know at all well. You know. The kind that have mottoes

    Synonyms

    * (thoughtful sadness) (l) * See also

    Noun

    (melancholies)
  • (historical) Black bile, formerly thought to be one of the four "cardinal humours" of animal bodies.
  • *, Bk.I, New York 2001, p.148:
    • Melancholy , cold and dry, thick, black, and sour,is a bridle to the other two hot humours, blood and choler, preserving them in the blood, and nourishing the bones.
  • Great sadness or depression, especially of a thoughtful or introspective nature.
  • * 1593 , (William Shakespeare), , V. i. 34:
    • My mind was troubled with deep melancholy .

    Related terms

    * melancholic * sadness

    misanthrope

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One who hates all mankind; one who hates the human race.

    • Synonyms

    * misanthropist

    Antonyms

    * philanthrope

    See also

    * misanthropy (hatred of humans) * misanthropic * misandry (hatred of males) * misogyny (hatred of females) * philanthropy (love of humans) * philanthropic * philanthropist * philandry (love of males) * philogyny (love of females) * Timonist (bitter misanthrope) * xenophobe (hater of foreigners)