What does "moody" mean?
Given to sudden or frequent changes of mind; temperamental.
Moody
/ˈmuːdi/ adj, name, slang
adj, name, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Given to sudden or frequent changes of mind; temperamental.
- Grammar: moody is listed as adj, name, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: temperamental, abrupt, adrift, afloat.
- Useful contrasts: bright, calm, cheerful.
- Usage evidence: Helen Moody was noted as a tennis player for not showing any expression on the court.
How to use "moody"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "moody" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "moody" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "moody" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "moody" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "moody" is acting as adj, name, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "temperamental" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "moody", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Adjective
- 1 Given to sudden or frequent changes of mind; temperamental.
"How now? moodie? / What is't thou canſt demand?"
- 2 Sulky or depressed.
- 3 Dour, gloomy or brooding.
"There's something special about tidal estuaries, due to the abundance of wildlife and the ever-changing scenes as the water ebbs or rises. Throw in some moody skies and filtered sunlight, and the views can resemble a painting by Turner - only you don't have to go to the National Gallery to see this, it's brought to your seat on a train."
- 4 Of dubious origin; counterfeit or stolen. UK, slang
"Both Garry and Wally were dressed in dodgy suits and looked ready to hit the streets of Peckham to sell moody goods."
Adjective
- 1 subject to sharply varying moods wordnet
- 2 showing a brooding ill humor wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
- 2 A number of places in the United States:; A city in St. Clair County, Alabama.
- 3 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Jasper County, Indiana.
- 4 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Howell County, Missouri.
- 5 A number of places in the United States:; A city in McLennan County, Texas.
Show 1 more definition
- 6 A locality on the Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.
Antonyms
Example
"Helen Moody was noted as a tennis player for not showing any expression on the court."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "moody"?
Common synonyms include: temperamental, abrupt, adrift, afloat, alternating, amorphous.
How do you use "moody" in a sentence?
Helen Moody was noted as a tennis player for not showing any expression on the court.
How do you pronounce "moody"?
Pronounced /ˈmuːdi/.
Etymology
From Middle English mody, modi, from Old English mōdiġ (“brave”), from Proto-Germanic *mōdagaz (“courageous”). By surface analysis, mood + -y.