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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 Since his siblings were crying with the same mournful expression, clinging to their father’s corpse, Shoichiro willed himself to cry too, and the tears came immediately. — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026 But there’s something mournful, something searching about his statement, too. — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 24 July 2026 The teen’s father, Jesus Rivas, looked at the screen with a mournful expression and repeatedly checked on Martínez as their lawyer, Patrick Steinfeld, sat next to them. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 21 July 2026 The teen’s father, Jesus Rivas, looked at the screen with a mournful expression and repeatedly checked on his wife. — Nancy Dillon, VIBE.com, 21 July 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
  • However — here is the gold dust — the perfect blend is gay AND sad.
    — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Top Plays from Broncos @ Chiefs Perhaps the only solace for the Broncos after a season of sky-high expectations opened with a flop is those sorts of sad adjectives belonged to everyone.
    — Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of sad
Adjective
  • Having too many Titans on your fantasy roster is just depressing.
    — Gary Davenport, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Don’t be put off by the alarming title; this book approaches our ominous political landscape with an eye to diagnosing, not depressing.
    — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of depressing
Adjective
  • Vucic said Mladic's family will announce funeral plans in the coming days.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The killings wiped out members from four generations, said Jennifer Mercer, a neighbor and family friend who set up an online fundraiser to help cover funeral costs and other expenses and was authorized to release the details.
    — David K. Li, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of funeral
Adjective
  • But when an oblong ball hits the turf, there’s often an equal chance the other team will recover, so Harbaugh was predictably unhappy with his team’s four fumbles against Dallas.
    — Dan Duggan, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • There's also the daunting task of keeping young conservatives engaged at a time when many of them are unhappy with party leaders.
    — Elena Moore, NPR, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of unhappy
Adjective
  • This is a complete pathetic effort by defense, offense and coaching.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Among the performers, Smith rules the roost as the no-nonsense Angela, and Jones acquits himself tolerably on comic relief duties as the pathetic Mike.
    — Caspar Salmon, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of pathetic
Adjective
  • Wright State University President Sue Edwards said the school community was heartbroken.
    — Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Micah’s life was taken far too soon, leaving his family, friends, teammates, and community heartbroken.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of heartbroken
Adjective
  • Quietly depressed, a wife to Reuben (Tracy Letts, Coon’s real-life partner) and mother to Ella (Bella Ramsey) and Jo (Odessa Young), Rita holds a monotonous desk job at a bank by day, and tends to her family by night as part of her humdrum routine.
    — Tomris Laffly, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Sprague conceded Clancy had mental health issues and was depressed.
    — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of depressed

Browse Nearby Words

mourned
mournful
mournfully
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Cite this Entry

“Mournful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mournful. Accessed 18 Sep. 2026.

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