Definition of MOURNFUL

Examples of mournful in a Sentence

she had such a mournful expression that someone teasingly asked if her dog had died the mournful survivors of the disaster were faced with the grim task of burying the dead

Recent Examples on the Web

Wray’s diary entries, along with the adoring love letters Riskin wrote her when he was engaged in his war work, constitute the raw, mournful heart of their daughter’s touching memoir. — Scott Eyman, WSJ, "‘Fay Wray and Robert Riskin’ Review: Love Lines," 22 Feb. 2019 The Chieftains & Sinead O'Connor Sinead O’Connor lent her voice for a mournful rendition of the traditional Irish ballad with The Chieftains. — Selena Barrientos, Good Housekeeping, "20 Best Irish Songs to Help You Celebrate St. Patrick's Day," 13 Feb. 2019 That tactic failed, at first — Trump staffers refused to allow him in, and Fintiklis played a mournful tune in the lobby in protest. — Washington Post, "The Trump Panama hotel showdown appears to end, and the Trump name is coming down," 5 Mar. 2018 Here, The Ivory Game changes from a mournful nature doc to shaky cam action film, as African rangers chase sounds in the night and investigators record video of some of the most dangerous people on Earth—which almost goes terribly wrong. — Janet Fang, Popular Mechanics, "New Netflix Doc Walks the Front Lines of the War to Save Elephants," 11 Nov. 2016 The recent fires in California will get a mournful nod during the concurrent Faena Festival. — Kelly Crow, WSJ, "At Miami’s Art Fairs, a Somber Mood Sets In," 1 Dec. 2018 Local news cameras caught him looking mournful as police put up tape around the crime scene. — Megan Friedman, Woman's Day, "This Incredibly Loyal Dog Refused to Leave the Scene After His Owner Died in a Car Crash," 26 Oct. 2015 The vocalist singing the mournful, gorgeous Portuguese music with perfect pitch is stunning in a black silk dress, her dark hair piled high on top of her head. — Jill Gleeson, Good Housekeeping, "Menopause Doesn't Make Me Invisible," 5 Oct. 2018 Here and there Godard’s voice itself is heard, craggy as the branches of an ancient tree, making doomy, mournful pronouncements. — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, "Cannes Review: Jean-Luc Godard's The Image Book Confounds and Dazzles," 14 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mournful.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.