funereal

[fyoo-neer-ee-uhl]

adjective

1. of or suitable for a funeral.

2. mournful; gloomy; dismal.

   a funereal aloofness that was quite chilling.

funereal

/ fjuːˈnɪərɪəl /

adjective

1. Also: funebrial. suggestive of a funeral; gloomy or mournful

Other Word Forms

• funereally adverb
• unfunereal adjective
• unfunereally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of funereal¹

1715–25; < Latin fūnere(us) of, belonging to a funeral + -al ¹ ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of funereal¹

C18: from Latin fūnereus

Example Sentences

These, however, also feel funereal, like death masks taken after a long-suffering friend has been freed finally from corporeal struggles.

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The infamous “waxworks” scene captures silent-era figures like Buster Keaton playing cards, their faces pure funereal alabaster.

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The musicians wore white, flower-print jackets and black shirts as they played funereal tunes.

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But when the movie started, the mood turned funereal.

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Al-Hijazi joined her relatives in the square, beating her chest to the rhythm of a funereal dirge, tears streaming down her cheek.

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Related Words

• elegiac 
• gloomy 
• lugubrious 
• mournful 
• solemn 
• somber