mournful

adjective

mourn·​ful ˈmȯrn-fəl 

1

: expressing sorrow : sorrowful

a mournful face

a mournful howl

2

: full of sorrow : sad

a mournful occasion

3

: causing sorrow or melancholy : gloomy

mournful news

mournfully

ˈmȯrn-fə-lē 

adverb

mournfulness noun

Synonyms of mournful

• weeping
• funeral
• heartbroken
• bitter
• wailing
• grieving
• melancholy
• sorrowful
• sad
• doleful
• anguished
• plaintive

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

Newsom shakes his head, seeming more mournful than angry. —Maya Singer, Vogue, 1 Feb. 2026

In addition to occasional bursts of folk songs, there are outstanding new compositions by Mario Batkovic that move from a quick, nerve-jangling pulse to a full surge of mournful chords in a late sequence. —Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 30 Jan. 2026

These are haunting hills streaked with a soft, mournful color palette. —Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 29 Jan. 2026

Springsteen has sounded bitter before, and mournful, but never this purely angry. —Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 29 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for mournful

• scornful

Kids Definition

mournful

adjective

mourn·​ful ˈmō(ə)rn-fəl 

ˈmȯ(ə)rn-

1

: expressing or full of sorrow : sorrowful

a mournful face

2

: causing sorrow

a mournful story

mournfully

-fə-lē 

adverb

mournfulness noun