mournful
adjective
mourn·ful ˈmȯrn-fəl 
1
: expressing sorrow : sorrowful
2
: full of sorrow : sad
3
: causing sorrow or melancholy : gloomy
mournfully
ˈmȯrn-fə-lē
adverb mournfulness noun
Synonyms
- aching
- agonized
- anguished
- bemoaning
- bewailing
- bitter
- deploring
- doleful
- dolesome
- dolorous
- funeral
- grieving
- heartbroken
- lamentable
- lugubrious
- plaintive
- plangent
- regretful
- rueful
- sorrowful
- sorry
- wailing
- weeping
- woeful
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
she had such a mournful expression that someone teasingly asked if her dog had died the mournful survivors of the disaster were faced with the grim task of burying the dead
Recent Examples on the Web The next morning, his signature patter is mournful but insistent. 
Michelle Nijhuis, The New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2022 For instance, the shows often use cartoon graphics, elaborate background sets and sound effects -- such as mournful music that plays while defectors recall their past. Jessie Yeung And Yoonjung Seo, CNN, 3 Sep. 2022 Rimes’ vocal rendering is introspectively restrained, mournful yet centered. Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 28 Aug. 2022 One reads into his neutral expression Milky’s mournful contemplation of doom — mirrored, too, in the cow’s big, glistening eyes, made out of a foam that has been painted with a clear resin. Peter Marks, Washington Post, 25 Aug. 2022 Anhedönia’s music has frequently been compared to Lana Del Rey’s, and the similarities are evident: the reedy, mournful vocals; the meandering song structures; the tales of seedy corners of American life. Liam Hess, Vogue, 23 Aug. 2022 Beyond the August days blazing over the sea, the sprawling old summer places, which tend to be stretched out on a north–south axis to maximize sunrise and sunset, take on a mournful, translucid quality. Rafil Kroll-zaidi, Harper’s Magazine , 17 Aug. 2022 Individual components are rich: photographic images suggest extraterrestrial forms; the texts are samples of Weston’s intensely mournful poetry, the benches and glass evoke modernist architecture. New York Times, 23 June 2022 Sites that have fallen victim to time compel a certain mournful fascination. Elizabeth Lowry, WSJ, 5 Aug. 2022 See More
Michelle Nijhuis, The New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2022 For instance, the shows often use cartoon graphics, elaborate background sets and sound effects -- such as mournful music that plays while defectors recall their past. Jessie Yeung And Yoonjung Seo, CNN, 3 Sep. 2022 Rimes’ vocal rendering is introspectively restrained, mournful yet centered. Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 28 Aug. 2022 One reads into his neutral expression Milky’s mournful contemplation of doom — mirrored, too, in the cow’s big, glistening eyes, made out of a foam that has been painted with a clear resin. Peter Marks, Washington Post, 25 Aug. 2022 Anhedönia’s music has frequently been compared to Lana Del Rey’s, and the similarities are evident: the reedy, mournful vocals; the meandering song structures; the tales of seedy corners of American life. Liam Hess, Vogue, 23 Aug. 2022 Beyond the August days blazing over the sea, the sprawling old summer places, which tend to be stretched out on a north–south axis to maximize sunrise and sunset, take on a mournful, translucid quality. Rafil Kroll-zaidi, Harper’s Magazine , 17 Aug. 2022 Individual components are rich: photographic images suggest extraterrestrial forms; the texts are samples of Weston’s intensely mournful poetry, the benches and glass evoke modernist architecture. New York Times, 23 June 2022 Sites that have fallen victim to time compel a certain mournful fascination. Elizabeth Lowry, WSJ, 5 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
mournful
adjective
mourn·ful ˈmȯrn-fəl
1
: full of sorrow or sadness
a mournful face
2
: causing sorrow
mournful news
mournful
adjective
1
as in weeping
expressing or suggesting mourning she had such a mournful expression that someone teasingly asked if her dog had died Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- weeping
- funeral
- heartbroken
- melancholy
- sorrowful
- wailing
- grieving
- doleful
- bitter
- plaintive
- sad
- anguished
- lugubrious
- somber
- tearful
- dolorous
- lamentable
- agonized
- rueful
- regretful
- plangent
- unhappy
- aching
- bewailing
- funereal
- sorry
- woeful
- keening
- morbid
- crying
- depressed
- elegiac
- deploring
- bleak
- dark
- bemoaning
- groaning
- dolesome
- pathetic
- disconsolate
- moody
- forlorn
- downcast
- dejected
- moaning
- gloomy
- heartsick
- woebegone
- darkening
- miserable
- downcast
- desolate
- glum
- dispirited
- inconsolable
- despondent
- morose
- downhearted
- piteous
- careworn
- crestfallen
- howling
- downhearted
- sullen
- gloomy
- cheerless
- bawling
- miserable
- triste
- sombre
- gray
- glum
- elegiacal
- heartsore
- brokenhearted
- bleeding
- suffering
- pessimistic
- black
- wretched
- joyless
- dismal
- saturnine
- low
- dreary
- low-spirited
- dirgelike
- comfortless
- yammering
- grey
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- joyful
- triumphant
- cheerful
- happy
- cheery
- joyous
- bright
- smiling
- delighted
- mirthful
- exulting
- rejoicing
- laughing
- merry
- jolly
- blithe
- buoyant
- lighthearted
- blissful
- optimistic
- hopeful
- glorying
- rapturous
- rhapsodic
- blithesome
- encouraging
- ecstatic
- cheering
- jocund
- euphoric
- giddy
- heady
- rhapsodical
- elated
- exhilarated
2
as in sad
feeling unhappiness the mournful survivors of the disaster were faced with the grim task of burying the dead Synonyms & Similar Words
- sad
- unhappy
- heartbroken
- depressed
- melancholy
- miserable
- sorrowful
- doleful
- bad
- sorry
- melancholic
- upset
- worried
- forlorn
- gloomy
- uneasy
- disconsolate
- woebegone
- dejected
- downcast
- disappointed
- glum
- heartsick
- troubled
- hopeless
- joyless
- crestfallen
- inconsolable
- saddened
- despondent
- blue
- downhearted
- hangdog
- woeful
- wretched
- heavyhearted
- depressing
- brokenhearted
- droopy
- down
- distressed
- suicidal
- heartsore
- cast down
- low-spirited
- low
- tearful
- somber
- despairing
- grieving
- discouraged
- plaintive
- lugubrious
- aggrieved
- unquiet
- weeping
- dolorous
- anguished
- bleak
- dispirited
- lachrymose
- morbid
- elegiac
- regretful
- sunk
- desolate
- wailing
- rueful
- down in the mouth
- morose
- agonized
- disheartened
- sullen
- cheerless
- funereal
- dark
- gray
- sombre
- dismal
- drear
- saturnine
- darkening
- dreary
- comfortless
- black
- murky
- elegiacal
- grey
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- joyous
- joyful
- cheerful
- jubilant
- cheery
- gleeful
- upbeat
- exultant
- buoyant
- exuberant
- happy
- blissful
- rapturous
- rhapsodic
- ecstatic
- jovial
- mirthful
- euphoric
- rhapsodical
- sunny
- glad
- merry
- jolly
- buoyed
- jocular
- blithe
- chipper
- enraptured
- blithesome
- delighted
- jocund
- optimistic
- jocose
- hopeful
- elated
- exhilarated
- overjoyed
- gladsome
- lightsome
- excited
- sanguine
- rosy
- entranced
- gladdened
- spirited
- energetic
- vivacious
- jaunty
- sprightly
- perky
- lively
- smiling
- vital
- peppy
- thrilled
- animated
- frisky
- springy
- laughing
- bouncing
- content
- satisfied
- lighthearted
- careless
- encouraged
- zippy
- unconcerned
- carefree
- pleased
- grinning
- gratified
- easygoing
- insouciant
- cavalier
- beaming
- heartened
- sprightful
- boon
- happy-go-lucky
- devil-may-care
3
as in depressing
causing unhappiness the mournful death of a beloved entertainer Synonyms & Similar Words
- sad
- depressing
- melancholy
- pathetic
- tearful
- heartbreaking
- unfortunate
- saddening
- disturbing
- teary
- drear
- dismal
- dreary
- heartrending
- distressful
- lamentable
- sorry
- poignant
- disquieting
- deplorable
- woeful
- grievous
- touching
- distressing
- perturbing
- moving
- affecting
- discomforting
- discouraging
- dispiriting
- disheartening
- discomposing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- cheery
- happy
- glad
- uplifting
- inspiring
- pleasant
- delightful
- stirring
- heartening
- agreeable
- stimulating
- satisfying
- pleasing
- heartwarming
- enjoyable
- cheering
- welcome
- pleasurable
- exhilarating
- thrilling
- participator
- participators
- participatory
- participial
- participial adjective
- participiales
- participialize
- participially
- participials
- participle
- participles
- particle
- particle accelerator
- particle physicist
- particle physics
- particle velocity
- particleboard
- particleboards
- particles
- particular
- particular average
- Particular Baptist
- particular custom
- particular estate
- particular integral