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Synonyms of 'blue'

blue

Explore 'blue' in the dictionary

1 (adjective) in the sense of depressed

Definition

depressed or unhappy

There's no earthly reason for me to feel so blue.

Synonyms

He seemed somewhat depressed.

low

`I didn't ask for this job, you know,' he tells friends when he is low.

sad

The loss left me feeling sad and empty.

Her boss is horrible and she is desperately unhappy.

I'm fed up and don't know what to do.

He is gloomy about the fate of the economy.

You can't occupy yourself with dismal thoughts all the time.

It was at this time of day that I felt most melancholy.

What are you both looking so glum about?

Everyone has days when they feel dejected or down.

He often felt despondent after these meetings.

a glum, downcast expression

down in the dumps (informal)

down in the mouth

He was low-spirited, disappointed and out of humour.

down-hearted

See examples for synonyms

Opposites

,

,

,

,

,

,

,

,

,

chirpy (informal)

,

2 (adjective) in the sense of smutty

Definition

pornographic

(old-fashioned)

blue movies

Synonyms

She said she detested smutty jokes.

He laughed at their dirty jokes.

a comedy routine crammed with naughty innuendo

I'm no prude, but I think these photos are obscene.

She accused him of making indecent suggestions.

a TV show well known for its vulgar jokes

The embattled mayor apologized for making lewd remarks to reporters.

a cheeky comment or a risqué suggestion

X-rated (informal)

We got arrested once, for singing bawdy songs in a cemetery.

near the knuckle (informal)

See examples for synonyms

Opposites

,

(plural noun) in the sense of depression

My friend has moved away and it's given me the blues.

Synonyms

the hump (British, informal)

moodiness

low spirits

the dumps (informal)

the doldrums

gloominess

glumness

related words

related adjective cyanic

subject word lists

See Shades of blue

figurative note

Blue has developed many figurative meanings in English. The colour of the sky in nature, blue has come to symbolize constancy and lack of change, leading to the phrase true-blue, meaning staunch, as applied to members of the Scottish Whig party in the 17th century and now applied to British Conservatives. In Australia, true blue means genuine. Blue denotes right-wing in Britain, from the choice of this colour to represent the Conservative party. It refers to the aristocracy in the phrase blue-blood, but to manual workers in the phrase blue-collar. Blue-collar stems from the dress codes of these industries, where traditionally shirts had to be made of a durable material and non-staining colour. Against appearances, in Australia bluey is a slang term for someone with red hair. Though its origins are not certain, blue has become associated with pornography, as in the phrase blue movies. This may derive from so-called `blue laws' which promoted morality in the 18th century United States by restricting activities such as drinking and gaming. Blue is also related to depression and low spirits, especially appearing in the plural form the blues. This is also the name of a style of melancholy music.

Copyright © 2016 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.

Additional synonyms

in the sense of bawdy

Definition

(of language, writing, etc.) containing humorous references to sex

We got arrested once, for singing bawdy songs in a cemetery.

Synonyms

blue (old-fashioned),

steamy (informal),

raunchy (informal),

X-rated (informal),

salacious (formal),

prurient (formal),

lascivious (formal),

libidinous (formal),

licentious (formal),

near the knuckle (informal),

indecorous (formal)

in the sense of dejected

Definition

in low spirits

Everyone has days when they feel dejected or down.

Synonyms

low,

sad,

down in the dumps (informal),

cast down,

sick as a parrot (informal),

in the sense of despondent

Definition

dejected or depressed

He often felt despondent after these meetings.

Synonyms

sad,

low,

in despair,

down in the dumps (informal),

sick as a parrot (informal),

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blue

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All ENGLISH synonyms that begin with 'B'

Related terms of
blue

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Thesaurus for blue from the Collins English Thesaurus

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Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Question: 1

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aural or oral?

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aural

oral

The piano exam involves an test.

almost or nearly?

Which version is correct?

She said it almost angrily. She said it nearly angrily.

classic or classical?

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classical

classic

He is an accomplished pianist.

beside or besides?

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What languages do you know beside Arabic and English? What languages do you know besides Arabic and English?

chef or chief?

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chief

chef

I spoke to the of UK operations.

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Scrabble score
for 'blue':
6

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Question: 1

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place or plaice?

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place

plaice

The best to catch fish on a canal is close to a lock.

lessen or lesson?

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lessen

lesson

This will the risk of serious illness.

tide or tied?

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tied

tide

He the dog securely to the railing.

taken or took?

Which version is correct?

Betty taken a photograph of us. Betty took a photograph of us.

feat or feet?

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feat

feet

Their journey was an astonishing of endurance.

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Updating our Usage

There are many diverse influences on the way that English is used across the world today. We look at some of the ways in which the language is changing. Read our series of blogs to find out more. October 30, 2020 Read more

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