mope

1 of 3

verb

ˈmōp How to pronounce mope (audio)
moped; moping
Synonyms of mope

intransitive verb

1
: to give oneself up to brooding : become listless or dejected
I was feeling depressed and just moped around all day.
2
: to move slowly or aimlessly : dawdle
He moped to school gloomy and sad …—Mark Twain
3
archaic : to act in a dazed or stupid manner
moper noun
mopey
ˈmō-pē How to pronounce mope (audio)
adjective

mope

2 of 3

noun (1)

1
: one that mopes
2
mopes plural : blues sense 1

moper

3 of 3

noun (2)

mop·​er
ˈmōpə(r)
plural -s
: one that mopes
especially : a slow driver

Synonyms of mope

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Verb

Noun (1)

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Examples of mope in a Sentence

Verb Like a little child, he often moped when he didn't get what he wanted. we were in a rush, and the Sunday driver in front of us was just moping along Noun (1) he's got the mopes because his girlfriend is mad at him
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Koko storms off and spends the rest of the evening moping about the interaction. — Jihan Forbes, Allure, 29 Oct. 2025 But gardeners don’t have to just mope indoors, dreaming of summer. — Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2026
Noun
Freshly ditched by his friends, Chris mopes, dejected, as his mother drives. — Hannah Bae, San Francisco Chronicle, 30 July 2024 That’s how Jerry came to portray Hamlet not so much as a melancholy mope but as someone consumed by anger. — Stephen Humphries, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mope

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun (1)

probably from obsolete mop, mope fool

First Known Use

Verb

1568, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Noun (1)

1693, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mope was in 1568

Rhymes for mope

See All Rhymes for mope

Browse Nearby Words

mopboard
mope
moped
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mope.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mope. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

mope

1 of 2 verb
ˈmōp How to pronounce mope (audio)
moped; moping
1
: to be in a dull and gloomy state
2
: to move slowly and aimlessly : dawdle
moper noun

mope

2 of 2 noun
1
: a person who lacks energy or enthusiasm
2
plural : low spirits : blues
a fit of the mopes

More from Merriam-Webster on mope

Nglish: Translation of mope for Spanish Speakers

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