mournful

American  

[mawrn-fuhl, mohrn-] / ˈmɔrn fəl, ˈmoʊrn- /

adjective

1. feeling or expressing sorrow or grief; sorrowful; sad.

2. of or relating to mourning mourning for the dead.

3. causing grief or lament.

   a mournful occasion.

4. gloomy, somber, or dreary, as in appearance or character.

   mournful shadows.

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mournful British  

/ ˈmɔːnfʊl /

adjective

1. evoking grief; sorrowful

2. gloomy; sad

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Other Word Forms

• mournfully adverb
• mournfulness noun
• overmournful adjective
• overmournfully adverb
• overmournfulness noun
• unmournful adjective
• unmournfully adverb

Etymology

Origin of mournful

First recorded in 1375–1425, mournful is from the late Middle English word morneful. See mourn, -ful

Example Sentences

In it, Slayyyter explores her hometown roots, family dynamics and desire at her most trashy, mournful, hungry and loud; as the “Worst Girl in America,” Slayyyter is raw.

From Los Angeles Times

The wide tonal variation continues with “Don’t Let Go,” a gorgeous midtempo weeper with pedal-steel guitar, tinkly piano and mournful fiddle.

From The Wall Street Journal

January’s spending data told a mournful story: Americans are spending more on healthcare and housing, and pulling back on clothing, cars, and just about everything else.

From Barron's

January’s spending data told a mournful story: Americans are spending more on healthcare and housing, and pulling back on clothing, cars, and just about everything else.

From Barron's

Love becomes more mournful on “Harbor Lights,” the first of two ballads on the LP: “One way ticket and a runaway heart / A sailor’s dream came true the night I dreamed you.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• anguished
• forlorn
• sad