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
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Then Greene takes a long, sad subway ride home, and America learns that one of their favorite TV doctors isn't flawless.
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Local foodies were sad to hear owner Sylvia Chung (Momma Chung) retired and closed the south Fort Worth restaurant in October of last year.
Adjective
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New-home construction tumbled, then stayed depressed for over a decade.
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These figures mark a clear increase from depressed crossing rates seen during much of the Iran war since its start in late February.
Adjective
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Isdin Melatonik If traditional retinoids have left your sensitive skin unhappy, Isdin's Melatonik Recovery Night Serum offers a gentler approach with bakuchiol.
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Brown and the Celtics have both since denied speculation that the 29-year-old second-team All-NBA selection was unhappy with his role in Boston.
Adjective
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The courtroom was packed with heartbroken supporters wanting justice for Jor'Dynn as each woman stood silent in front of the judge.
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There is nothing more evocative of a pure Love Island experience than a heartbroken rage split in costume.
Adjective
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Bryson, in particular, has looked miserable all season.
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Despite concerns that the conflict in the Middle East would further squeeze a flagging labor market, hiring has picked up in recent months following a miserable 2025 that saw fewer than 200,000 job gains.
Adjective
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Not necessarily the technical side of blues music, but its emotional palette—the melancholy, vulnerability, and depth that live within those shades of blue.
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Daeron Targaryen Daeron Targaryen, otherwise known as Daeron the Drunkard, is a bookish and melancholy Targaryen prince known for his prophetic dreams.
Adjective
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Are those still your worst fears?
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While a higher tracker error is not bad in and of itself, most investors become uncomfortable when their portfolio acts so differently from the index.
Adjective
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For this particular one, there was the cat stuff, but also there was the Monica dating stuff, which is very much based on my horrific experiences, sorry to say.
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These things are around for so much longer than any of us — sorry to bring death into it.
Cite this Entry
“Hangdog.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hangdog. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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