mournful

[mawrn-fuhl, mohrn-]

adjective

1. feeling or expressing sorrow or grief; sorrowful; sad.

2. of or relating to mourning mourning for the dead.

3. causing grief or lament.

   a mournful occasion.

4. gloomy, somber, or dreary, as in appearance or character.

   mournful shadows.

mournful

/ ˈmɔːnfʊl /

adjective

1. evoking grief; sorrowful

2. gloomy; sad

Other Word Forms

• mournfully adverb
• mournfulness noun
• overmournful adjective
• overmournfully adverb
• overmournfulness noun
• unmournful adjective
• unmournfully adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of mournful¹

First recorded in 1375–1425, mournful is from the late Middle English word morneful. See mourn, -ful

Example Sentences

A group of figures surround an open casket in 1999’s “Family Grief,” their dark garments and mournful poses contrasting with the bright blue shirt of the man resting within.

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Discarded eventually — a raven essentially fills a similar role — the cat today has been resurrected for the Mansion, most notably in a revised attic scene where the kitty is spotted near a mournful bride.

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For the mournful subject matter, this is a work that makes one feel very much alive.

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The memo did not name Sole, Kramer and Galván, but each confirmed their departures in mournful and, at times, critical notes on social media.

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Mr. Winter brings to this crucial moment a sense of mournful confusion and despair that recurs throughout.

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Related Words

• anguished 
• forlorn 
• sad