Synonyms for
Brood
Definition
to sit on or hatch eggs; to worry or be unhappy about something for a long time
Synonyms & similar words
Synonyms by register
Formal
Informal
Literary
Antonyms
Common collocations
- brood over problems
- brood about the past
- brood in silence
- brood over a loss
- brood on mistakes
- brood with resentment
Word family
Usage note
As a verb, 'brood' often implies a prolonged and unhappy state of thinking. As a noun, it refers to a group of young animals hatched at one time, or a family of offspring.
Example sentences
- She tends to brood over her problems instead of seeking solutions.
- The mother bird was brooding her eggs in the nest.
- I could see the sadness in his eyes as he brooded over the loss of his dog.
- I don't like to brood on my mistakes because it just makes me feel worse.
- He spent hours brooding in his room after his argument with his parents.
Quotes
'The hen is the wisest of all the animal creation, because she never cackles until the egg is laid.' - Abraham Lincoln
'I cannot brood over the past and the opportunities lost. I must embrace the opportunities that are still ahead.' - Nelson Mandela
'It is better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness.' - Eleanor Roosevelt