sepulchral

adjective

se·​pul·​chral sə-ˈpəl-krəl How to pronounce sepulchral (audio)
 also  -ˈpu̇l-
1
: of or relating to a sepulchre
sepulchral inscriptions
2
: suited to or suggestive of a sepulchre : funereal
spoke in sepulchral whispers
sepulchrally
sə-ˈpəl-krə-lē How to pronounce sepulchral (audio)
 also  -ˈpu̇l-
adverb

Examples of sepulchral in a Sentence

the decrepit mansion had a sepulchral tone that gave everyone a chill
Recent Examples on the Web For the occasion, the Shed’s Griffin Theater greets guests with an antechamber cast in sepulchral light and hung with wall size images from Sakamoto’s life. Max Lakin, New York Times, 25 June 2023 The lighting is sepulchral, the air dank. Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2020 Wolverine Blues saw Swedish death-metal pioneers Entombed slowing down and adding a rock and roll swagger to their grisly, sepulchral sound, and in the process realizing some of their most memorable material. Hank Shteamer, SPIN, 24 Jan. 2023 Morse was tall and thin and as gray and sepulchral as a church about to be condemned. Krista Stevens, Longreads, 2 Feb. 2022 Here, the cemetery scene — in which bass-baritone John Relyea, having switched roles from ghost to gravedigger, stands in an open pit and pushes his voice to even more sepulchral depths— moves too slowly to be comic. Vulture, 16 May 2022 Splendor gradually drains from Richard Hudson’s set, which fades from ornate to sepulchral under Neil Austin’s lighting, as the march of the 20th century grows louder outside the door. Naveen Kumar, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2022 Historic mansions that hew to their original interiors can seem sepulchral. Cate McQuaid, BostonGlobe.com, 28 July 2022 From its first sepulchral rumble in the dark to the lonely ending — papery wrinkles of snare drum; a cello solo high and yearning enough to mimic a viola; quietly breathless winds — Dean’s score contains multitudes and mysteries. New York Times, 15 May 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sepulchral.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sepulchral was in 1615

Dictionary Entries Near sepulchral

Cite this Entry

“Sepulchral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sepulchral. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sepulchral

adjective
se·​pul·​chral sə-ˈpəl-krəl How to pronounce sepulchral (audio)
1
: of or relating to the burial of the dead
2
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