doleful

dole·ful | \ ˈdōl-fəl

How to pronounce doleful (audio)

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Definition of doleful

1 : full of grief : cheerless a doleful face

2 : expressing grief : sad a doleful melody

3 : causing grief or affliction a doleful loss

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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 on the Web This might seem like a doleful itinerary from our violent age: not so much waypoints on a walk meant to connect humanity as a plunge into the Phlegethon, the river of burning blood in which murderers, warmongers, and tyrants boil in Dante’s Inferno. — Paul Salopek, National Geographic, "Is the world becoming more violent?," 10 Jan. 2020 This year’s batch of doleful ex-spouses gingerly opening their hearts is especially impressive, heading into double-digit territory. — Dan Snierson, EW.com, "The biggest trends in 2019 Christmas TV movies," 6 Dec. 2019 And with some reason: While the Eighth unfolds with doleful sweetness, his other symphonies can be chuggingly listless. — Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, "Philip Glass Is Too Busy to Care About Legacy," 7 Nov. 2019 The doleful pessimist would also point to the rise of nationalism. — Akshat Rathi, Quartz, "Are we finally at a tipping point on climate action?," 26 Sep. 2019 Frampton, of course, had funny stories to tell, some of it in Wyman’s doleful voice. — Ben Crandell, sun-sentinel.com, "Review/Photos: Peter Frampton makes a powerful final statement in West Palm Beach," 7 Sep. 2019 The repeating beat and words provided a doleful soundtrack for the encampment, where pain came from a life marked by trauma and disregard. — Los Angeles Times, "Broadway Place’s homeless residents were promised homes. Had the city forgotten them?," 15 Aug. 2019 There's more sadness to Kapadia's film than anticipated, and Maradona is on hand to comment on what was going on behind his younger self's often doleful expression. — Thomas Page, CNN, "Sex, drugs and soccer: Diego Maradona film shines light on Napoli years," 12 June 2019 These movies extend his doleful comedies across decades, cultures and nations, putting his words in the mouths of Australian ranchers, Japanese schoolgirls, French auteurs and jobbing New York actors. — Alexis Soloski, New York Times, "‘The Seagull’ Brings Chekhov’s Doleful Comedy to Cinemas," 4 May 2018

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.

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“Doleful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/doleful. Accessed 5 Jun. 2020.

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