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Synonyms

joyless

American  
[joi-lis] / ˈdʒɔɪ lɪs /

adjective

  1. without joy or gladness; unhappy.

    the joyless days of the war.
    Synonyms:
    miserable, dismal, gloomy, cheerless, sad
    Antonyms:
    joyous

  2. causing no joy or pleasure.

joyless British  
/ ˈdʒɔɪlɪs /

adjective

  1. having or producing no joy or pleasure

"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

Other Word Forms

  • joylessly adverb
  • joylessness noun

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.

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

Shrinking perks and growing fears about AI are turning offices into joyless places.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

Leadership sets the tone, and right now that tone feels tense and joyless.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 21, 2026

When I say “budget better,” I don’t mean becoming stricter or joyless about food.

From Salon • Dec. 20, 2025

His smile is sharp as a scim and as joyless.

From "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir

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.