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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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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3
as in depressing
causing unhappiness
the mournful death of a beloved entertainer
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mournful
The mix of Black trauma and White philanthropy created a peculiar vibe in the event space, at once somber and thrilling, mournful and hopeful.
—
Nicholas Lalla, WIRED, 4 Mar. 2025
And few relish the sense of their own identity, camaraderie and shared journey to be found in football more than Kelce, who no doubt will be mournful about losing those connections whenever his time comes.
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 14 Feb. 2025
This all in between mournful and reflective moments that punctuated the telecast’s fundraising for wildfire relief efforts.
—Kimi Robinson, USA TODAY, 3 Feb. 2025
In the mournful mid-section, keyboardist Rick Wakeman channels Bach on the pipe organ, recorded at a London church.
—Ernesto Lechner, Rolling Stone, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mournful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mournful
Adjective
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And every day, across from them, outside the clinic, about to enter or just leaving, there were women hugging each other and weeping.—
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The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.—
Adjective
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Though the courts have not invariably ruled against Trump, the Administration’s record so far is, to use one of the President’s favorite words, sad.—
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The sad story of Alex Verdugo was one of the most puzzling dramas of the MLB offseason.—
Adjective
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This Sunday’s finale marks the end of a bizarre, depressing, and sometimes extremely funny show about a family like none other.—
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That’s been really fascinating and depressing and dispiriting to see.—
Adjective
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The squads will rotate funeral duty to maintain their health.—
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Many of the items had been burned, suggesting that they might have been torched upon a funeral pyre, but no human remains were found amid the assemblage.—
Adjective
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Despite his close relationship with Trump, Elon Musk is unhappy about tariffs, which stand to hurt the business empire of the world’s richest man.—
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There have even been reports of police being called to deal with the rowdy behavior, not to mention some theater employees who are unhappy about the cleanup required.—
Adjective
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Read more The pathetic, slow-motion downfall of Barack Obama Houseguests and fish begin to smell after three days, as the saying goes.—
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Regression was fair to expect, but man did the Canucks just look offensively pathetic most of the year.—
Adjective
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King was on an errand to pick up a snack for his mom when he was shot, heartbroken relatives said.—
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Downs recovered from her injuries but remained heartbroken over the loss of her friends and overwhelmed with survivor's guilt.—
Adjective
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The detective here, blending a couple of characters from the book, is Inspector Leach, a depressed drinker so unkempt one wonders why he hasn’t been put on administrative leave.—
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To my dismay, the leader started feeling depressed rather than taking the actions that were most required.—
Cite this Entry
“Mournful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mournful. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
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