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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as in sadness
a state or spell of low spirits
the memorial to the war's dead has an aura of mournfulness that cannot be conveyed in words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mournful
Nicholas Lalla, WIRED, 4 Mar. 2025
And few relish the sense of their own identity, camaraderie and shared journey to be found in football more than Kelce, who no doubt will be mournful about losing those connections whenever his time comes.
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 14 Feb. 2025
This all in between mournful and reflective moments that punctuated the telecast’s fundraising for wildfire relief efforts.
—Kimi Robinson, USA TODAY, 3 Feb. 2025
In the mournful mid-section, keyboardist Rick Wakeman channels Bach on the pipe organ, recorded at a London church.
—Ernesto Lechner, Rolling Stone, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mournful
Adjective
The mix of Black trauma and White philanthropy created a peculiar vibe in the event space, at once somber and thrilling, mournful and hopeful.
—Nicholas Lalla, WIRED, 4 Mar. 2025
And few relish the sense of their own identity, camaraderie and shared journey to be found in football more than Kelce, who no doubt will be mournful about losing those connections whenever his time comes.
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 14 Feb. 2025
This all in between mournful and reflective moments that punctuated the telecast’s fundraising for wildfire relief efforts.
—Kimi Robinson, USA TODAY, 3 Feb. 2025
In the mournful mid-section, keyboardist Rick Wakeman channels Bach on the pipe organ, recorded at a London church.
—Ernesto Lechner, Rolling Stone, 6 Mar. 2025
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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Though the courts have not invariably ruled against Trump, the Administration’s record so far is, to use one of the President’s favorite words, sad.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
21 Apr. 2025
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The sad story of Alex Verdugo was one of the most puzzling dramas of the MLB offseason.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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This Sunday’s finale marks the end of a bizarre, depressing, and sometimes extremely funny show about a family like none other.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
14 Apr. 2025
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That’s been really fascinating and depressing and dispiriting to see.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Glamour,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Keeping with tradition, the Vatican’s health department verifies the pope’s death in his home, and his body is placed in a coffin and transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica for public viewing, the funeral Mass and burial.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2025
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The funeral mass will begin at 10am CET (1am PT) and take place on the parvis of Saint Peter’s Basilica, or the space in front of the basilica.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Particularly now that Americans are unhappy with the state of economy.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Apr. 2025
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Some 59% of voters are unhappy with how things are going in the country.—
Dana Blanton,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Read more The pathetic, slow-motion downfall of Barack Obama Houseguests and fish begin to smell after three days, as the saying goes.—
Aris Folley,
The Hill,
17 Apr. 2025
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Writing the most unbridled, impolite, unreasonable, pathetic rant that gives voice to unseen, unheard parts of you opens a relief valve that transfers emotional pain onto the page.—
Jessica DuLong,
CNN Money,
11 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The portrait of the melancholy Dane himself lacks gravitas, alas, which undercuts the existential power of the play.—
Karen D'Souza,
Mercury News,
7 Apr. 2025
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Quiet, melancholy Andrew slowly resigns himself to letting his sweet daughter go.—
Judy Berman,
TIME,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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King was on an errand to pick up a snack for his mom when he was shot, heartbroken relatives said.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
18 Apr. 2025
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Downs recovered from her injuries but remained heartbroken over the loss of her friends and overwhelmed with survivor's guilt.—
Laurel Morales,
NPR,
18 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mournful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mournful. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.
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