crestfallen

adjective

ˈkrest-ˌfȯ-lən How to pronounce crestfallen (audio)
Definition of crestfallennext
as in sad
feeling unhappiness she was crestfallen when she found out she hadn't got the job

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 crestfallen Here, though, the crestfallen faces in the crowd tell their own story after West Bromwich Albion had outclassed Wrexham in the first home game at this level for 43 years. — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 11 May 2026 The song ends with a spoken-word segment, Allen’s crestfallen comments from her side of the call, which live on stage introduced a rowdiness to its story. — Peter Larsen, Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026 Ortega, meanwhile, sounds unmistakably like a Rachel Sennott character, except that Ortega plays Sennott better than Sennott plays herself, especially when called to be crestfallen or truly upset. — Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026 Olitzky’s sermon left him crestfallen. — Eyal Press, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for crestfallen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crestfallen
  1. sad
  2. heartbroken
  3. unhappy
  4. depressed
  5. miserable
  6. sorry
  7. upset
  8. melancholy
Adjective
  • Washington Post cartoonist Clifford Berryman quickly produced a cartoon showing Roosevelt refusing to shoot a tiny bear cub with big sad eyes and a rope around its neck.
    — Paul Schullery, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026
  • These sad conventions; these American ways of being, pacing to the end of a block and back like hamsters.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of sad
Adjective
  • Neighbors of the family told WABC they are heartbroken over the tragedy.
    — Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Followers were heartbroken that their idol had, potentially, signed away his creation.
    — Kyle MacNeill, Rolling Stone, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of heartbroken
Adjective
  • Some Democratic board members noted that voters unhappy with Lukas’ performance can express their dissatisfaction in the 2028 election.
    — Alicia Fabbre, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
  • When the motorcycle crew was unhappy with the drugs, Hinman and Beausoleil got into a confrontation.
    — Kalia Richardson, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of unhappy
Adjective
  • By mid-December, Clancy was feeling very depressed, Tufts said.
    — Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
  • While there is plenty of food, everyone looks pretty depressed.
    — William Earl, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of depressed
Adjective
  • There were fears of a delay or, at minimum, a miserable experience.
    — Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • And, of course, cyclospora — that stomach parasite making people miserable across the country.
    — Rob Stein, NPR, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of miserable
Adjective
  • There has also always been a place for vice in fragrance (sorry to point out that classic diet cola and cigarettes, while very Gabbriette right now, are not actually good for you).
    — Loren Savini, Allure, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Evidence of silence quietly (sorry) breaking apart one’s bearings bleeds through both the main plot thread and satellite storylines, which include recurring visits to a client of Ninh’s and that man’s own conflicts with his distant wife.
    — Josh Slater-Williams, IndieWire, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of sorry
Adjective
  • Once the veteran players and most of the top seeds vanished from the Canadian Open, succumbing to injury and upset, the stakes of the tournament in Montreal took on a new edge.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Council member Chris Whatley said the entire council has been upset about the news of a data center, and vowed to do everything in his official capacity to protect Keller residents.
    — Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of upset
Adjective
  • Blending dry Finnish humour with melancholy and unexpected warmth, ATLANTIS PASILA turns its distinctly local setting into an intimate portrait of a generation searching for connection.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Everything is infused with melancholy, the unfailing indicator of the fundamental rift between humans and their natural environment.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of melancholy

Browse Nearby Words

crested
crestfallen
crestfallenly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Crestfallen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crestfallen. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on crestfallen

Nglish: Translation of crestfallen for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of circumscribe

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All