mournful

adjective

ˈmȯrn-fəl How to pronounce mournful (audio)
Definition of mournfulnext
1
as in weeping
expressing or suggesting mourning she had such a mournful expression that someone teasingly asked if her dog had died

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sad
feeling unhappiness the mournful survivors of the disaster were faced with the grim task of burying the dead

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in depressing
causing unhappiness the mournful death of a beloved entertainer

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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 mournful The plaintive melodies are mournful yet comforting. — Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026 Here, his mournful ex-convict is finally tasting freedom in a country that wants to keep him metaphorically shackled. — Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026 There was something mournful in watching Jackson grapple with the realization that his fame, talent, or the myth of him could save him from the reckoning or the boundaries of appropriate behavior with children. — Steven Gray, Time, 29 Apr. 2026 The hour-long event included mournful hymns, prayers and the laying of wreaths by the participants, which included representatives from many countries around the world. — ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mournful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mournful
  1. weeping
  2. sad
  3. depressing
  4. funeral
  5. unhappy
  6. pathetic
  7. heartbroken
  8. depressed
Adjective
  • 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
Definition of weeping
Adjective
  • Nostalgic, proud and, yeah, a little sad too, that the decade-long journey of making Stranger Things has come to an end.
    — Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2026
  • In the comments, fans expressed conflicted feelings about the ride’s closure, with some excited for the new version and others sad to hear the original Kumba ride will soon be no more.
    — Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 15 July 2026
Definition of sad
Adjective
  • In addition to which, the Moon is lined up with stern Saturn, which can be depressing.
    — Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 7 July 2026
  • Laughter and jokes are banned, and writing is presented as arduous and faintly depressing.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026
Definition of depressing
Adjective
  • When Khomeini’s coffin began moving in a convoy, mourners surged towards it, causing a crowd crush and forcing the funeral procession to be abandoned, according to ISNA.
    — Xiaoqian Lin, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • Amid the inextricable trauma of losing her 18-year-old child, the mother had feared that traditional funeral customs might be handled differently because of the manner in which her daughter died.
    — Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
Definition of funeral
Adjective
  • Brigitte Bardot, a very unhappy wife, is the Penelope stand-in.
    — Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 14 July 2026
  • Given the players’ high-profile status, there is a giant spotlight on the process, with plenty of unhappy fans questioning why the SEC determined both moves were made for athletic purposes.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 July 2026
Definition of unhappy
Adjective
  • Never in my lifetime has pathetic nostalgia for the white man’s republic been closer to the center of power.
    — Brian DeLay, Mercury News, 4 July 2026
  • Instagram Plus is social media’s newest low—a company preying on our most pathetic impulses, for the price of a small iced coffee.
    — Annie Joy Williams, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026
Definition of pathetic
Adjective
  • Was, still heartbroken about the loss of his friend and bandmate, recalled their first time on tour.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • Prince Harry was heartbroken after arriving at Eton College in 1998.
    — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 30 June 2026
Definition of heartbroken
Adjective
  • The numbers are consistent with the depressed transit levels recorded over recent days since negotiations fell apart.
    — Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
  • Like other OEMs, Samsung has boosted prices on its mid-range and budget offerings, which has depressed sales.
    — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 13 July 2026
Definition of depressed

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Cite this Entry

“Mournful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mournful. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

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