1
: expressing sorrow : sorrowful
2
: full of sorrow : sad
3
: causing sorrow or melancholy : gloomy
mournfulness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of mournful in a Sentence
she had such a mournful expression that someone teasingly asked if her dog had died
the mournful survivors of the disaster were faced with the grim task of burying the dead
Recent Examples on the Web
Angie’s grief turns even more mournful when Pat’s family members decline to honor their relationship and start taking what is emotionally and tangibly Angie’s.
—
Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 18 June 2024
The production, their first professional collaboration, often feels like a mournful valentine to him (even down to its opening date).
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 14 Feb. 2024
While Scorsese's penchant for exploring the intricacies of a criminal world is present, Killers of the Flower Moon takes on a decidedly more mournful tone.
—and Kevin Jacobsen, EW.com, 21 June 2024
The world is exponentially more brilliant because of Barbara in it, and a tragic mournful void expanded in sadness in her departure.
—Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 20 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for mournful 
Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 18 June 2024
The production, their first professional collaboration, often feels like a mournful valentine to him (even down to its opening date).
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 14 Feb. 2024
While Scorsese's penchant for exploring the intricacies of a criminal world is present, Killers of the Flower Moon takes on a decidedly more mournful tone.
—and Kevin Jacobsen, EW.com, 21 June 2024
The world is exponentially more brilliant because of Barbara in it, and a tragic mournful void expanded in sadness in her departure.
—Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 20 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for mournful
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mournful.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near mournful
Cite this Entry
“Mournful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mournful. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mournful
adjective
mourn·ful
ˈmō(ə)rn-fəl 
ˈmȯ(ə)rn-
1
: expressing or full of sorrow : sorrowful
a mournful face
2
: causing sorrow
a mournful story
mournfulness
noun
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