lugubrious
[loo-goo-bree-uh s, -gyoo-]
- mournful, dismal, or gloomy, especially in an affected, exaggerated, or unrelieved manner: lugubrious songs of lost love.
Show More
Origin of lugubrious
Synonyms
See more synonyms for lugubrious on Thesaurus.comsorrowful, melancholy.
Antonyms
cheerful.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for lugubrious
Contemporary Examples
She is likely to shoehorn her pain into lugubrious scenarios that are perfect for country-music videos.
Death is not a lugubrious occasion here, but more often a celebration of a life.
Historical Examples
Miette, after a woman's fashion, was partial to lugubrious subjects.
The Fortune of the RougonsEmile Zola
But Aristide felt some doubts on the point; he had suspicions of some lugubrious farce.
The Fortune of the RougonsEmile Zola
He was too downcast even to sing one of his lugubrious hymns or to whistle.
ShavingsJoseph C. Lincoln
"It's darker in the grave," observed Captain Perez with lugubrious philosophy.
Cap'n EriJoseph Crosby Lincoln
Crane stared at the deceptive bag in the most lugubrious astonishment.
The Young MinerHoratio Alger, Jr.
lugubrious
- excessively mournful; doleful
Show More
Word Origin
C17: from Latin lūgubris mournful, from lūgēre to grieve
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 lugubrious
adj.
c.1600, from Latin lugubris "mournful, pertaining to mourning," from lugere "to mourn," from PIE root *leug- "to break; to cause pain" (cf. Greek lygros "mournful, sad," Sanskrit rujati "breaks, torments," Lettish lauzit "to break the heart"). Related: Lugubriously; lugubriousness.
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper