as in weeping
expressing or suggesting mourning
the dolesome sound of a lone harmonica arising from the darkened encampment
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dolesome
Adjective
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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
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His villains were flamboyant, but Bruce was mournful, reluctant — no onscreen superhero has more palpably wrestled with not wanting to be a superhero.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
7 Mar. 2026
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Such memories flowed freely this week on social media and in mournful first-person essays.—
Dan Adler,
Vanity Fair,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Two people were killed at a funeral repast on Detroit's east side in late February.—
Terell Bailey,
CBS News,
7 Mar. 2026
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Authorities will announce the funeral procession at a later date.—
Lee Ying Shan,Anniek Bao,Victor Loh,
CNBC,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Also up for sale is a 13-page affidavit filed by Paul McCartney in December 1970 to break up The Beatles, leaving fans heartbroken.—
Adam Reiss,
NBC news,
11 Mar. 2026
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An 83-year-old Air Force veteran pushed onto the subway tracks by a stranger at an Upper East Side station in a random act of violence is unlikely to survive, his heartbroken daughter told the Daily News Tuesday.—
Roni Jacobson,
New York Daily News,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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While the loss of Showmax was a bitter pill to swallow, there were calls throughout the week for more partnerships, more collaborations, more efforts to unlock cross-border revenue streams in everything from theatrical to free-to-air broadcasting to the booming diaspora market.—
Christopher Vourlias,
Variety,
9 Mar. 2026
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Eric Musselman sat behind a microphone at the bitter end of a bitter regular season for USC, armed only with the same explanations for how a once-hopeful season could come so undone.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Sitting opposite an old people’s home in a residential corner of Paris’ 14th arrondissement, La Santé’s unassuming presence is only given away by the occasional wailing siren as prisoners are transported to and from the site.—
Joseph Ataman,
CNN Money,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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In a weirdly serendipitous bit of cinema news, Billie Eilish—queen of melancholy pop—is turning her sad eyes to Sylvia Plath.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
12 Mar. 2026
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Resident reactions Some residents are sad to see the cemetery go.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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We were told that Operation Epstein Fury — sorry, Epic Fury — was needed to bring democracy to Iran and prevent an attack on us.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
8 Mar. 2026
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The judge reminded the courtroom that in the previous trial, Cox made a last-minute motion to self-represent to be able to tell the jury that Cox was sorry.—
Amy DeLaura,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Dolesome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dolesome. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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