1
as in weeping
expressing or suggesting mourning
she had such a mournful expression that someone teasingly asked if her dog had died
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2
as in sad
feeling unhappiness
the mournful survivors of the disaster were faced with the grim task of burying the dead
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3
as in depressing
causing unhappiness
the mournful death of a beloved entertainer
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of mournful
His body battled against gravity—its mournful advance up each step found an echo in the lightning recoil that shot through his face and shoulders.
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Kayla Aletha Welch, Longreads, 19 Nov. 2024
That undoubtedly contributes to the mournful feeling that has enveloped Númenor, which is still dealing with the death of King Tar-Palantir and the fallout of Mount Doom’s eruption, including Míriel’s loss of sight.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2024
Soon a mournful blue light would rise over the islands in the sea.
—Greg Jackson, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024
Of all on this list, perhaps this is the most mournful.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 16 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for mournful 
Kayla Aletha Welch, Longreads, 19 Nov. 2024
That undoubtedly contributes to the mournful feeling that has enveloped Númenor, which is still dealing with the death of King Tar-Palantir and the fallout of Mount Doom’s eruption, including Míriel’s loss of sight.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2024
Soon a mournful blue light would rise over the islands in the sea.
—Greg Jackson, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024
Of all on this list, perhaps this is the most mournful.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 16 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for mournful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mournful
Adjective
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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
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The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.Helen Shaw, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2021
Adjective
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But nothing in life is sadder than a reality television person who doesn't know when to retire.Dana Rose Falcone, People.com, 15 Jan. 2025
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Air France regrets this sad event and expresses its sincere condolences.Michael D. Carroll AND Theo Burman, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The depressing part is that the smear campaign worked.Nicole Page, IndieWire, 6 Jan. 2025
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In October, Lilium was scrambling for additional investments to keep the doors open and by late December the company announced that the only people still on the payroll would be handling the depressing job of liquidation.David Szondy, New Atlas, 5 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Carter’s casket will depart the U.S. Capitol at 9 a.m. and a funeral motorcade will travel to the Washington National Cathedral.Molly Bohannon, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
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On this day, in an Assad-free Damascus, he is mourned loudly by hundreds in a funeral procession that starts at the hospital where he was identified and ends at his final resting place.Claire Harbage, NPR, 17 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Ratings declined, Lynch was unhappy, and the show was canceled.Victoria Edel, People.com, 16 Jan. 2025
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Saquon Barkley is an unstoppable force, the defense is resurgent under Vic Fangio, the chatter about an unhappy A.J. Brown has mostly died down.Dianna Russini, The Athletic, 16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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In the final, pathetic weeks of his failed presidency, Joe Biden has been casting about desperately for a positive legacy.Jack Butler, National Review, 12 Jan. 2025
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The 10th pick will be your usual pathetic Bear player.Jon Greenberg, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Probably train tomorrow for my sanity, but just frustrated and heartbroken.Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 12 Jan. 2025
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Her owner recently passed away unexpectedly, and Eartha was left heartbroken.Maryanne Dell, Orange County Register, 11 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Many people were really unhappy, depressed and angry, frustrated.Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 9 Jan. 2025
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If Richard wanted to die, suicide-by-cop is sometimes a choice for those who are desperate and depressed.Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near mournful
Cite this Entry
“Mournful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mournful. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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