adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of joyless
First recorded in 1300–50, joyless is from the Middle English word joyles. See joy, -less
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.
That’s not to say it was an entirely joyless event.
From Slate ● Jul. 1, 2026
The journey that fear takes him on isn't a slow-motion car crash, it's a full-throttle run of joyless rides.
From BBC ● Apr. 24, 2026
MIAMI—Despite arriving with one of the greatest rosters ever assembled, Team USA found a way to make its time at the World Baseball Classic look rather joyless.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 18, 2026
Leadership sets the tone, and right now that tone feels tense and joyless.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 21, 2026
There were a few cafés and bars, but they seemed careless, dusty, and joyless places.
From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
