hangdog

1 of 2

adjective

hang·​dog ˈhaŋ-ˌdȯg How to pronounce hangdog (audio)
1
2

hangdog

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noun

: a despicable or miserable person

Examples of hangdog in a Sentence

Adjective He came home with a hangdog expression on his face. “Why do you look so hangdog today?” she asked
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Adjective
The Movie finds its titular alpha wolf Scott McCall (Tyler Posey) a teenager no more, but still struggling with the same hangdog loneliness. Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 26 Jan. 2023 The man is Calum (Normal People's Paul Mescal), dangling on the cusp of 32, handsome in a hangdog way, with an arm in a cast and a big smile that can't entirely hide the distress that nips at his joy. A.a. Dowd, Chron, 9 Nov. 2022
Noun
Even the big producer, Joe Josephson, who can come off as a Hollywood hack with dollar signs for pupils, is brought a sense of hangdog appeal by Reg Rogers. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 16 June 2024 Photo: Cannes Film Festival This time, those hangdog eyes shine like little pools of predatory menace; the wide-open mouth, the slight forward hunch of the neck suggest a beast curious about its next meal. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 21 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for hangdog 

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1677, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1687, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hangdog was in 1677

Dictionary Entries Near hangdog

Cite this Entry

“Hangdog.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hangdog. Accessed 7 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

hangdog

adjective
hang·​dog
ˈhaŋ-ˌdȯg
1
: ashamed sense 1, guilty
a hangdog look
2

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