as in solemn
not joking or playful in mood or manner
humorless people who can't see the lighter side of life
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Recent Examples of humorless
Credit perhaps goes to Belew’s fellowship with Zappa, or Fripp’s growing resistance to being pegged as some humorless tyrant.
—
Sam Sodomsky, Pitchfork, 11 Jan. 2026
Funny novels are invariably more serious than humorless ones.
—Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
In Prime 4, Samus is humorless, simply nodding along while others try their best at second-rate comedy.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 2 Dec. 2025
The woman’s gray hair, her sunglasses, her sharp nose, her soft chin, and her utterly humorless expression contrasted with the almost cartoonish proportion of her political expression.
—Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for humorless
Sam Sodomsky, Pitchfork, 11 Jan. 2026
Funny novels are invariably more serious than humorless ones.
—Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
In Prime 4, Samus is humorless, simply nodding along while others try their best at second-rate comedy.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 2 Dec. 2025
The woman’s gray hair, her sunglasses, her sharp nose, her soft chin, and her utterly humorless expression contrasted with the almost cartoonish proportion of her political expression.
—Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for humorless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humorless
Adjective
-
To be fair, abducted 9-year-old Rainy is pretty cute, with solemn eyebrows and a conscience that continually puts her in peril.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
-
The once-rising developer’s solemn promise is not likely to be fulfilled if court records in his federal criminal case and a parallel Securities and Exchange Commission lawsuit are any indication.—
Jay Weaver
June 6,
Miami Herald,
6 June 2026
Adjective
-
My office will continue to vigorously prosecute defendants who pose serious threats to our community’s safety, especially our children.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2026
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In a touching tribute, Saliba ran over to the sideline after scoring and held up the jersey of Ismaël Koné, the teammate who left the field on a stretcher minutes earlier after suffering what looked to be a serious leg injury.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
19 June 2026
Adjective
-
Fold-down stern platforms create more than 50 square feet of additional usable space at anchor.—
Michael Verdon,
Robb Report,
16 June 2026
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The photo shows both the bow and the stern sections under construction.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
In the clip, Josie has a serious, unsmiling expression, which created a humorous contrast with the celebratory scene around her.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
10 June 2026
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Real, unsmiling, circa-1400 Vikings like Eric the Red and Hagar the Horrible.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
6 June 2026
Adjective
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Newly renovated, The Talbott Hotel has an earnest and inviting residential feel that is unique to the city.—
Wendy Altschuler,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
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Williams described the moment the effort began in earnest as a swift pivot from excitement to alarm.—
Kevin Strong,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Humorless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humorless. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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