joyless

[joi-lis]

See more synonyms for joyless on Thesaurus.com

adjective

without joy or gladness; unhappy: the joyless days of the war.
causing no joy or pleasure.

Origin of joyless

First recorded in 1300–50, joyless is from the Middle English word joyles. See joy, -less

Related formsjoy·less·ly, adverbjoy·less·ness, noun

Synonyms

See more synonyms for joyless on Thesaurus.com

1. sad, cheerless, gloomy, dismal, miserable.

Antonyms

1. joyous.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for joyless

Contemporary Examples

I mean, what kind of joyless world are we leaving for our children?
Why Your Kids Must Watch ‘South Park’
Nick Gillespie
September 24, 2014
If married life is as boring and joyless as this document, I am glad I am celibate.
Did the Pope Just Wink at Gay Marriage?
Barbie Latza Nadeau
June 27, 2014
The quintessentially American lesson he learns is never to be joyless.
A History of American Fun
Stefan Beck
February 9, 2014
The traffic was as light as if it were some joyless holiday.
Hurricane Sandy Victim Jacob Vogelman’s Mother Remembers His Life
Michael Daly
November 1, 2012
The man was like a dark cloud—rather like having a joyless loan officer run the country.
What Cameron Is Up Against
Tunku Varadarajan
May 12, 2010

Historical Examples

"No," she said, slowly, joyless resignation mingling with pride in her voice.
The Market-Place
Harold Frederic
To me they are written in the dreary memory of a joyless, weary existence.
The Martins Of Cro' Martin, Vol. I (of II)
Charles James Lever
Thereon Drepanum receives me in its haven and joyless border.
The Aeneid of Virgil
Virgil
Bertha had never mingled with a gay crowd in so joyless a mood.
Fairy Fingers
Anna Cora Mowatt Ritchie
These rays were joyless to the heart of the poor young girl, who wept and prayed.
The Pearl of Lima
Jules Verne

British Dictionary definitions for joyless

joyless

adjective

having or producing no joy or pleasure

Derived Formsjoylessly, adverbjoylessness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for joyless

adj.

mid-14c., from joy + -less. Related: Joylessly; joylessness.

joyless

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}joyless

Synonyms

Antonyms

Examples from the Web for joyless

Contemporary Examples

I mean, what kind of joyless world are we leaving for our children?

If married life is as boring and joyless as this document, I am glad I am celibate.

The quintessentially American lesson he learns is never to be joyless.

The traffic was as light as if it were some joyless holiday.

The man was like a dark cloud—rather like having a joyless loan officer run the country.

Historical Examples

"No," she said, slowly, joyless resignation mingling with pride in her voice.

To me they are written in the dreary memory of a joyless, weary existence.

Thereon Drepanum receives me in its haven and joyless border.

Bertha had never mingled with a gay crowd in so joyless a mood.

These rays were joyless to the heart of the poor young girl, who wept and prayed.

joyless

Word Origin and History for joyless

adj.

Origin of joyless