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
-
On the soundtrack, mournful wailing music presents her as a tragic character.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
2 June 2026
-
The pair end the episode romantically riding together with a mournful song playing, which is akin to Dutton-family love-making.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
25 May 2026
Adjective
-
Also on Monday, senior government, police and military officials attended funeral prayers for the slain security personnel.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 June 2026
-
With Hillary Dawa alone on the world’s tallest mountain in perilous conditions for so long, his family had already begun funeral rites for him.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
5 June 2026
Adjective
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Ali later finds her, a moment that leaves him completely heartbroken, before testing the drugs and confirming they were laced with fentanyl.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
1 June 2026
-
Horace leaves Hollywood and a heartbroken but determined Aaron behind.—
Meredith Maran,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
To be whole without the effort of stretching oneself out, without the exercise that leaves a bitter taste.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
-
Kennedy’s efforts showed how bitter rivals could nevertheless work toward a common goal.—
Abigail R. Hall,
Oc Register,
8 June 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
The other six ascended to the highest office in the land as a result of the dysfunction that has made Peru a punch line in political-science circles, a sad story of ungovernability played on a loop.—
Daniel Alarcón,
New Yorker,
4 June 2026
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There’s a one-note quality to the film’s comedy that grows steadily, even deliberately, more abrasive over two hours, but the sad, brash, gradually shrinking bigness of the personalities at its center holds your attention.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
There’s just too many quality teams for an underdog to go all the way – sorry to any USMNT fans out there.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
8 June 2026
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The Pasadena Playhouse — sorry, just Pasadena Playhouse — is an anomaly.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
8 June 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Dolesome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dolesome. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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