Weltschmerz
Word of the Day
What is Weltschmerz?
noun
World-weariness or melancholy stemming from the perceived inadequacy of the world compared to ideals.
Pronunciation
Why This Word?
Chosen as a counterpoint to summer's brightness—shade makes light vivid.
Examples of Use
Here's how this word appears in everyday language:
The novel hums with weltschmerz beneath its wit.
Her speech admitted weltschmerz, then pivoted to resolve.
Even at the beach, a little weltschmerz found him at dusk.
Word Origins
German Welt "world" + Schmerz "pain"
Romantic-era term; literary and philosophical.
First appearance in English: 19th century
Word Family
Related forms of this word:
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Noun:
A surge of Sehnsucht pulled her toward the sea.
-
Noun:
A refined ennui hung in the salon.
-
Noun:
A gentle melancholy softened the coda.
Around the World
How this word appears in other languages:
- Spanish: mal del mundo / desaliento existencial
- French: malaise du monde / spleen
- German: Weltschmerz
- Italian: mal di vivere
- Portuguese: cansaço do mundo / desalento
If you Already Know This Word
If you've mastered this word, try these more advanced alternatives:
Spleen
Baudelairean melancholy; weltschmerz is broader world-pain.
Pessimism
Philosophical stance; weltschmerz is a mood.
Existential angst
Anxiety about meaning; weltschmerz is saddened idealism.
Fun Facts
- Alongside "Sehnsucht," it names deep, untranslatable moods.
- Critics use it to read melancholic pop albums.
Cultural Usage
- Romantics wrote of weltschmerz and lofty ideals.
- Weltschmerz converses with pessimism and hope.
Common Mistakes
Not "schadenfreude"; that is pleasure at others' misfortune.
Micro Story
A twinge of weltschmerz tempered his triumphant return.