humorless

adjective

ˈhyü-mər-ləs How to pronounce humorless (audio)
Definition of humorlessnext
as in solemn
not joking or playful in mood or manner humorless people who can't see the lighter side of life

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of humorless Credit perhaps goes to Belew’s fellowship with Zappa, or Fripp’s growing resistance to being pegged as some humorless tyrant. — Sam Sodomsky, Pitchfork, 11 Jan. 2026 Funny novels are invariably more serious than humorless ones. — Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025 In Prime 4, Samus is humorless, simply nodding along while others try their best at second-rate comedy. — Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 2 Dec. 2025 The woman’s gray hair, her sunglasses, her sharp nose, her soft chin, and her utterly humorless expression contrasted with the almost cartoonish proportion of her political expression. — Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for humorless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humorless
  1. solemn
  2. serious
  3. stern
  4. unsmiling
  5. earnest
Adjective
  • In both the novel and its film adaptation, the scriptorium is portrayed as a solemn place where writing is a mechanical, joyless labor.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026
  • But the challenge has remained over the decades for popes that the threat of schism, or a rupture within the church, might lurk behind a preference for a more solemn liturgy.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026
Definition of solemn
Adjective
  • Surrounding areas are under a very serious Level 3 of 4 risk.
    — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
  • However, the area does have serious needs for infrastructure improvement, such as addressing flooding that has long affected neighborhoods like Argentine during rainy times of year.
    — Sofi Zeman July 14, Kansas City Star, 14 July 2026
Definition of serious
Adjective
  • These new images, however, revealed that Quest is in worse condition than previously thought, with fishing nets, floats, and other bottom-trawling gear snagged on the stern and much of the starboard side.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 10 July 2026
  • People use all caps to indicate heightened emotion and avoid the formality of proper punctuation, which now seems stilted, even stern.
    — Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026
Definition of stern
Adjective
  • In the clip, Josie has a serious, unsmiling expression, which created a humorous contrast with the celebratory scene around her.
    — Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026
  • Real, unsmiling, circa-1400 Vikings like Eric the Red and Hagar the Horrible.
    — Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 6 June 2026
Definition of unsmiling
Adjective
  • The singer’s prolific career as a teen and young star was a bit of a balancing act, juggling acting and an earnest pop career, and balance seems to be a theme of the new tour as well.
    — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 11 July 2026
  • Once the story gathers everyone into the house and lets the mayhem start in earnest, an overall feeling of Gothic grimness and rotting-corpse griminess takes hold.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 10 July 2026
Definition of earnest

Browse Nearby Words

humorists
humorless
humorlessness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Humorless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humorless. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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