1
as in mournful
expressing or suggesting mourning
a doleful expression on their faces as they said good-bye to the friends they had made over the summer
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sad
feeling unhappiness
the visibly doleful players, heartbroken about their loss
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of doleful
James, with his doleful countenance, makes the adult Hal vaguely sympathetic.
—
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 17 Feb. 2025
Krauss’s ethereal voice is as haunting as ever on this mournful ballad, where doleful lyrics look back on a time marked by regret and deceit, and get elevated by the elegant interplay between Krauss’ voice and Jerry Douglas’s soul-piercing steel guitar.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 3 Feb. 2025
The song begins with Iommi’s signature doleful blues soloing before kicking into a doomy groove.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 26 July 2024
In any case, that doleful Something had stirred the group chat up from its latency.
—Literary Hub, 15 Nov. 2022
See All Example Sentences for doleful
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 17 Feb. 2025
Krauss’s ethereal voice is as haunting as ever on this mournful ballad, where doleful lyrics look back on a time marked by regret and deceit, and get elevated by the elegant interplay between Krauss’ voice and Jerry Douglas’s soul-piercing steel guitar.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 3 Feb. 2025
The song begins with Iommi’s signature doleful blues soloing before kicking into a doomy groove.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 26 July 2024
In any case, that doleful Something had stirred the group chat up from its latency.
—Literary Hub, 15 Nov. 2022
See All Example Sentences for doleful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for doleful
Adjective
-
Over the years, humpback whale songs have been recorded for human listening, with many describing the songs as having a haunting, mournful quality.—
Patrick Whittle,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Humpback whales, which can weigh more than 55,000 pounds, are the ocean's most renowned singers, capable of complex vocalizations that can sound ethereal or even mournful.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
One of the saddest bits of it, actually!—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
26 Mar. 2026
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Sister Jean would pass away at age 106 this past October, a sad metaphor for the fate of Cinderella.—
Greg Cote
Updated March 23,
Miami Herald,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
And every day, across from them, outside the clinic, about to enter or just leaving, there were women hugging each other and weeping.—
David Mamet,
National Review,
11 Aug. 2022
-
The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.—
Helen Shaw,
Vulture,
8 Dec. 2021
Adjective
-
But there are so many other parts of Nigeria, unhappy in their union, who would also want that privilege.—
Obi Anyadike,
semafor.com,
23 Mar. 2026
-
The matter then came before the Board of Supervisors, which was caught between a sea of unhappy constituents and the possibility of a costly legal battle if the plan was not approved.—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
After her radiation treatment, Peet returned a clear scan in January of this year, and soon after began making funeral arrangements for her mother; Peet’s father died in 2025 amid the cancer ordeal.—
Daniel Kreps,
Rolling Stone,
22 Mar. 2026
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Attorneys for both Macy and Mallory Morphew said in their initial filing that their mother's remains were at Swan Lake Funeral Home in Colorado Springs, and had a funeral service planned for their mother when law enforcement took possession of the body.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
First, when shares are at a depressed value, investors can move more of them into the tax-free account.—
Darla Mercado, CFP®,
CNBC,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Dee labeled Angie as depressed, bipolar, lacking empathy, narcissistic, et cetera.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Washington Post,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
His heartbroken daughter told the Daily News just days after the attack that he was not expected to survive.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
25 Mar. 2026
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My heart goes out to the heartbroken family of Sheridan Gorman.—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Or a miserable 48 in the case of the Rangers, still simmering in Philadelphia.—
Kevin Sherrington
Mar. 27,
Dallas Morning News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Their home is huge and elegant, but also maze-like, miserable, and allergic to light.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Doleful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/doleful. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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