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Did you mean Weltschmerz?

Definitions

Wiktionary

  1. n. World-weariness; an apathetic or pessimistic view of life; depression concerning or discomfort with the human condition or state of the world.

Etymologies

  1. German : Welt, world; see Weltanschauung + Schmerz, pain (from Middle High German smërze, from Old High German smerzo).

Examples

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Lists

These user-created lists contain the word ‘weltschmerz’.

Comments

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  • blafferty Does anyone know whether this form or weltschmertz is more common? Assuming they mean the same thing. May 2, 2011

  • Gexe Great word! Jun 30, 2009

  • milosrdenstvi now this is a good word. Mar 20, 2009

  • wookinpanub This is my favorite new word! Dec 17, 2008

  • smeggo I'm grieved that so few are familiar with the term. Oct 11, 2008

  • tankexmortis This seems to be used particularly when referring to the suffering of privileged youth. Aug 7, 2008

  • seanmeade mental depression or apathy caused by comparison of the actual state of the world with an ideal state Mar 26, 2007

‘weltschmerz’ has been looked up 2884 times, loved by 19 people, added to 109 lists, commented on 7 times, and has a Scrabble score of 30.