as in solemn
not joking or playful in mood or manner
humorless people who can't see the lighter side of life
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 humorless
Worst of all, Phillips has intentionally or unintentionally created a bizarro, humorless version of My Cousin Vinny.
—
Alex Abad-Santos, Vox, 4 Oct. 2024
The Shoshone and Paiute characters, meanwhile, are solemnly noble or dangerously impassioned but invariably humorless.
—Mike Hale, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025
All this alarm and losing has made Democratic politics a rather miserable and humorless endeavor.
—Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2025
But the finished product feels relatively humorless, leaving the cast looking silly in scenes that might conceivably have flown if played as deadpan comedy — not a tenor achieved or seemingly even aimed for here.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for humorless
Alex Abad-Santos, Vox, 4 Oct. 2024
The Shoshone and Paiute characters, meanwhile, are solemnly noble or dangerously impassioned but invariably humorless.
—Mike Hale, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025
All this alarm and losing has made Democratic politics a rather miserable and humorless endeavor.
—Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2025
But the finished product feels relatively humorless, leaving the cast looking silly in scenes that might conceivably have flown if played as deadpan comedy — not a tenor achieved or seemingly even aimed for here.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for humorless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humorless
Adjective
-
Its fun-first identity is part of the draw in a market flooded with solemn storytelling and dusty barrels.—
Hudson Lindenberger,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
-
Moderator Whoopi Goldberg opened the show with a solemn acknowledgment of the disaster, urging viewers in affected areas to stay safe and tune in for information on how to help.—
Heather Hunter,
The Washington Examiner,
7 July 2025
Adjective
-
The report cited Biden's sleep apnea treatment and stiffened gait from arthritis, but mentioned no serious ailments.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
11 July 2025
-
And finally, a tree with serious diseases or pests that might infect the rest of the neighborhood should be removed as soon as possible.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
As the bow and stern sections tore free from one another, the ship’s contents were ejected and rained down across the ocean floor, dispersing everything from luggage and dinnerware to engine parts and personal belongings.—
Jordan Runtagh,
People.com,
6 July 2025
-
Len, that character of a stern Englishman with a twinkle in his eye, felt like the core of what the show was.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
5 July 2025
Adjective
-
The crowd roars and the vast, unsmiling curtain-call cast line the stage with the leading man bare-chested and covered in blood.—
David Benedict,
Variety,
1 July 2025
-
The portrait's lack of background and Trump's unsmiling gaze further differentiates it from those of his predecessors.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
4 June 2025
Adjective
-
The group is so deep — and perhaps has sustained so much injured attrition over the past two years — that the earnest fan could probably name nine offensive lineman off the top of their head.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
7 July 2025
-
Keen home cook Erin Patterson hosted an intimate meal in July 2023 that started with good-natured banter and earnest prayer — but ended with three guests dead.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
7 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Humorless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humorless. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share