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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of mournful
Very few directors working today can put across a movie like Gladiator II as convincingly, which perhaps explains why the sequel — for all its barbaric violence and the plaintive, at times stirring, discussions about justice and democracy — doesn’t have the mournful quality that the first film did.
—
Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 22 Nov. 2024
Russell Crowe beating people to death in a soulful, mournful way?
—Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 20 Nov. 2024
His body battled against gravity—its mournful advance up each step found an echo in the lightning recoil that shot through his face and shoulders.
—Kayla Aletha Welch, Longreads, 19 Nov. 2024
That undoubtedly contributes to the mournful feeling that has enveloped Númenor, which is still dealing with the death of King Tar-Palantir and the fallout of Mount Doom’s eruption, including Míriel’s loss of sight.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for mournful 
Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 22 Nov. 2024
Russell Crowe beating people to death in a soulful, mournful way?
—Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 20 Nov. 2024
His body battled against gravity—its mournful advance up each step found an echo in the lightning recoil that shot through his face and shoulders.
—Kayla Aletha Welch, Longreads, 19 Nov. 2024
That undoubtedly contributes to the mournful feeling that has enveloped Númenor, which is still dealing with the death of King Tar-Palantir and the fallout of Mount Doom’s eruption, including Míriel’s loss of sight.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2024
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.—
David Mamet,
National Review,
11 Aug. 2022
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The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.—
Helen Shaw,
Vulture,
8 Dec. 2021
Adjective
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But nothing in life is sadder than a reality television person who doesn't know when to retire.—
Dana Rose Falcone,
People.com,
15 Jan. 2025
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Air France regrets this sad event and expresses its sincere condolences.—
Michael D. Carroll AND Theo Burman,
Newsweek,
15 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Viewership increased, the Afternoon Depression Zone grew less depressing, everyone seemed happier.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
People.com,
23 Jan. 2025
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As well as Inauguration Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day, today is known as Blue Monday – thought to be the most depressing day of the year.—
Alyssa Jaffer,
Forbes,
20 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Carter’s casket will depart the U.S. Capitol at 9 a.m. and a funeral motorcade will travel to the Washington National Cathedral.—
Molly Bohannon,
Forbes,
9 Jan. 2025
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On this day, in an Assad-free Damascus, he is mourned loudly by hundreds in a funeral procession that starts at the hospital where he was identified and ends at his final resting place.—
Claire Harbage,
NPR,
17 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Ratings declined, Lynch was unhappy, and the show was canceled.—
Victoria Edel,
People.com,
16 Jan. 2025
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Saquon Barkley is an unstoppable force, the defense is resurgent under Vic Fangio, the chatter about an unhappy A.J. Brown has mostly died down.—
Dianna Russini,
The Athletic,
16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Something drastic has to be done with this pathetic group of men masquerading as basketball players.—
Ticked Off,
Orlando Sentinel,
24 Jan. 2025
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On Vanderpump Rules, this man was smug, pathetic, punchable.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
14 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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When Tai Shan was sent to China and separated from his parents, Nguyen was heartbroken.—
Christopher Cann,
USA TODAY,
24 Jan. 2025
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And now, a heartbroken mom has gone viral on TikTok, opening up about losing her 3-year-old daughter to invasive Strep A in 2022.—
Ashley Vega,
People.com,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Trump’s high-end real estate ambitions with GOP connections Gen Z employees are stressed, depressed, and burnt out: Study Netflix keeps raising prices.—
Quartz Bot,
Quartz,
22 Jan. 2025
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The study also reveals that 46 percent of Gen Z felt stressed (compared to the 35 percent employee average), 35 percent felt depressed (compared to 20 percent average), 44 percent felt burned out (compared to 34 percent), and 30 percent felt isolated (compared to 22 percent).—
Jess Thomson,
Newsweek,
17 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near mournful
Cite this Entry
“Mournful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mournful. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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