Definition of doleful
1 : causing grief or affliction a doleful loss
2 : full of grief : cheerless a doleful face
3 : expressing grief : sad a doleful melody
dolefulness
nounExplore Merriam-Webster
Examples of doleful in a Sentence
The girl had a doleful look on her face.
You sounded so doleful about your future that night.
Recent Examples of doleful from the Web
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Delicately woven with Amit Poznansky’s twinkly, doleful score, the film is fairly functional in style, but generally absorbing and admirably serious in intent.
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A triptych of doleful drama, nerd-skewering comedy and electrifying thriller, its diverse elements hinge on the journey of Erik Magnusson (played by Ricky Mabe), an overburdened and prematurely world-weary twenty-something.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'doleful'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of doleful
see 1dole
First Known Use: 13th century
DOLEFUL Defined for English Language Learners
DOLEFUL Defined for Kids
doleful
playDefinition of doleful for Students
: very sad a doleful day
dolefully
\-fə-lē\ adverbLearn More about doleful
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See words that rhyme with doleful Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for doleful Spanish Central: Translation of doleful Nglish: Translation of doleful for Spanish speakers
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