1
as in somber
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer
the diner's dim lighting makes eating there a particularly lugubrious experience
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in mournful
expressing or suggesting mourning
in Victorian times, people who could affect particularly lugubrious expressions were hired to march in funeral processions as professional mourners
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of lugubrious
Same, too, with the lugubrious dance of the conclave itself, with its round after round of balloting and tallying and quiet reflecting.
—
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 25 Oct. 2024
In one of the most creative responses, U.K. actor Christopher Tester turned Trump’s words into a highly dramatic monologue set to lugubrious music.
—Leslie Katz, Forbes, 11 Sep. 2024
The lugubrious creature surfaced next to the boat, cut across the bow, dived, then reemerged.
—Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2024
Their happy haberdashery stands in sharp contrast to their lugubrious lyrics.
—David Holahan, Hartford Courant, 2 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lugubrious 
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 25 Oct. 2024
In one of the most creative responses, U.K. actor Christopher Tester turned Trump’s words into a highly dramatic monologue set to lugubrious music.
—Leslie Katz, Forbes, 11 Sep. 2024
The lugubrious creature surfaced next to the boat, cut across the bow, dived, then reemerged.
—Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2024
Their happy haberdashery stands in sharp contrast to their lugubrious lyrics.
—David Holahan, Hartford Courant, 2 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lugubrious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lugubrious
Adjective
-
After running a somber ad in the 2024 Super Bowl aimed at fighting hate and bigotry, the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism tapped Snoop Dogg and Tom Brady in a spot that had the celebrities squaring off against one another, ticking off reasons why people don’t like one another.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
10 Feb. 2025
-
The mood within Santa Monica’s Barker Hangar, where the awards took place, was relatively somber with each win for the Netflix musical.—
Hilary Lewis,
The Hollywood Reporter,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Outwardly glassy but mournful on the inside, the film is a fairly overt expression of grief — one that’s even more acute coming out just a year after 9/11.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
24 Jan. 2025
-
Sunday's mournful cowboy funeral is attended only by his family, the bunkhouse crew, and three close friends.—
Ana Rocío Álvarez Bríñez,
The Indianapolis Star,
18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
But bleak and uncertain as things seem right now, Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred does not want to lose Tampa Bay, the No. 11 media market, which is why the hope is for a deep pocket owner (or owners) from Tampa to emerge and the Tampa stadium plan near Ybor City can be revived.—
Bill Madden,
New York Daily News,
8 Feb. 2025
-
Suicide is pretty bleak for a Super Bowl spot, and mental health, in general, is a sensitive topic.—
Matthew Pittman,
The Conversation,
6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
And every day, across from them, outside the clinic, about to enter or just leaving, there were women hugging each other and weeping.—
David Mamet,
National Review,
11 Aug. 2022
-
The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.—
Helen Shaw,
Vulture,
8 Dec. 2021
Adjective
-
Carotenoids may offer some protection against depressive symptoms, but the study's authors caution that a causal relationship (when one variable causes the other to change) was not established.—
Jennifer Lefton, MS, RD/N, CNSC, FAND,
Verywell Health,
7 Feb. 2025
-
Screening for depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts should be part of routine care for people with headaches.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Their son Donny attended to all of the funeral arrangements with the help of his wife Jan, a nurse, and his daughters Andrea and Alicia.—
Phil Potempa,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Feb. 2025
-
The funeral mass in Quincy’s Sacred Heart Church will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
31 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Meanwhile, Green made do with a slightly depressing cafeteria lunch—a cheese-and-pickle sandwich and a shiny red apple—and some chitchat about the weather.—
Nicola Twilley,
The New Yorker,
3 Feb. 2025
-
Beyond that, the shadow of Teresa’s legal woes hung over the season, making for a depressing watch.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
29 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Our community is heartbroken and our hearts go out to everyone that's been impacted.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
5 Feb. 2025
-
La Plata Youth Soccer Association and FC Charles 1658 posted on social media applauding his support for their teams and expressing how heartbroken the community was.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA TODAY,
4 Feb. 2025
Articles Related to lugubrious
Thesaurus Entries Near lugubrious
Cite this Entry
“Lugubrious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lugubrious. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share