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Synonyms

mournful

American  
[mawrn-fuhl, mohrn-] / ˈmɔrn fəl, ˈmoʊrn- /

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 British  
/ ˈmɔːnfʊl /

adjective

  1. evoking grief; sorrowful

  2. gloomy; sad

"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

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

Etymology

Origin of mournful

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

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.

January’s spending data told a mournful story: Americans are spending more on healthcare and housing, and pulling back on clothing, cars, and just about everything else.

From Barron's • Mar. 13, 2026

"Oh Dipu, where is my Dipu?" she cries, collapsing into a mournful lament.

From BBC • Feb. 15, 2026

“There’s this mournful, slightly atonal quality to his compositions,” she says.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 24, 2025

As for artfully implying this event picture’s deft blend of action and drama, the campaign chose a contemplative, mournful image of its star for the main poster.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 9, 2025

The Golden Glen, in particular, was too mournful to be borne, according to Isabelle.

From "Raymie Nightingale" by Kate DiCamillo

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.