Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

There slouched John McEnroe, the top-ranked tennis player in the world, dolefully reading a newspaper in a corner of the locker room.

From New York Times • Sep. 6, 2021

“It’s not how I wanted to go out,” he said, dolefully.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 30, 2020

“After winning a Grand Slam, everyone thinks that you will win all the tournaments and that’s not like this,” she said rather dolefully in a recent interview.

From Reuters • May 23, 2019

“No more Miranda,” her toddler nephew says dolefully in one video, after Ballinger stays in costume for too long backstage.

From The New Yorker • Oct. 12, 2018

I met Mr. Fleming at the end of the driveway, where I was dolefully flailing about in the drainage ditch looking for water striders.

From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly