as in sad
feeling unhappiness
"Why do you look so hangdog today?" she asked
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hangdog
His Mickey is pleasantly mumbly, with a hangdog mien that’s often crosscut with a don’t-underestimate-me swagger.
—
Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2022
Vic accepts his highly public and private humiliation with hangdog equanimity.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 18 Mar. 2022
Segel earns some empathy as a hangdog Everyman, though his backstory remains such a deliberate blank that any insight is mostly gleaned from his blundering missteps and low-simmering misery.
—Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 18 Mar. 2022
Another slip here is the casting of Effros in the lead role of Martin, a hangdog techie who travels from New York to Cape Cod to settle the estate of his late, estranged dad, Kenneth.
—Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2022
See All Example Sentences for hangdog
Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2022
Vic accepts his highly public and private humiliation with hangdog equanimity.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 18 Mar. 2022
Segel earns some empathy as a hangdog Everyman, though his backstory remains such a deliberate blank that any insight is mostly gleaned from his blundering missteps and low-simmering misery.
—Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 18 Mar. 2022
Another slip here is the casting of Effros in the lead role of Martin, a hangdog techie who travels from New York to Cape Cod to settle the estate of his late, estranged dad, Kenneth.
—Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2022
See All Example Sentences for hangdog
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hangdog
Adjective
-
There will be keggers, hook-ups, late nights and early mornings, all without shading Greg as a sad old man trying to turn back time.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
5 Mar. 2026
-
But none of them can say this, none of them can let their feelings be known, and, instead of a triangle, what ends up happening is three sad lines fallen in on each other, lying in a pile, waiting for someone to come along and prop them back up into a shape.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Women who are anxious, overwhelmed, or emotionally reactive get labeled as depressed or hormonal.—
Sarah Oreck,
SELF,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Telehealth companies are mailing a Schedule III narcotic to tens of thousands of depressed patients, hailing it as the democratization of mental health.—
Michael Alvear,
STAT,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
MacFarlane is also said to have faced personal threats from MAGA supporters unhappy with his coverage of the Justice Department.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Earlier this season, Marchment struggled mightily — and seemed plenty unhappy — with the Seattle Kraken, but his trade to the Blue Jackets in late December revitalized his season.—
Harman Dayal,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
His family and friends are utterly heartbroken.—
Mike Hellgren,
CBS News,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Like Sebek, Lincoln-Way co-op senior Zoe Dempsey was heartbroken not to win state in her final attempt.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Alex Caruso relishes making Jokic miserable.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Weegar has had a tough season, with his impact in basically every situation falling off during what’s been a miserable year all around in Calgary.—
Shayna Goldman,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Inside, the ornately elegant venue may have seemed like an unlikely setting for Junior H’s melancholy corridos tumbados.—
Isabela Raygoza,
Billboard,
5 Mar. 2026
-
In my experience, sadness and melancholy exist side by side with happiness and joy.—
Cressida Leyshon,
New Yorker,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The Knicks were held to less than 100 points for only the seventh time and had their fourth-worst three-point shooting performance of the season, going eight for 34.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
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The Pacers have the second-worst record in the NBA, 1 ½ games better than Sacramento.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Hangdog.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hangdog. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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