mournful
gb/mˈɔɹnfəl/ us/mˈɔɹnfəl/
B2
English
~ 5900
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
feeling or expressing deep sadness
Looking, sounding, or feeling very sad, often because of a death or other great loss.
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] looks/sounds/feels mournful
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "mournful" for light or everyday sadness (for example, saying "I feel mournful because my team lost"), but it is usually used for deeper, more serious sadness, often related to death or a big loss. Some also confuse the adjective "mournful" with the verb "mourn" and say "I am mournful for him" instead of "I mourn for him" or "I feel mournful about him."
Synonyms
sad (More general and common; can describe any kind of unhappiness, not always deep grief.)
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sorrowful (Close in meaning, but often slightly more formal or literary than "sad"; similar strength to "mournful.")
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melancholy (Suggests a quiet, thoughtful sadness that may last a long time, not always linked to a specific loss.)
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woeful (Stresses great unhappiness or misery and can sometimes sound dramatic or old-fashioned.)
Antonyms
cheerful (Describes a happy, bright manner, which contrasts with the dark, sad feeling of "mournful.")
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joyful (Stresses strong, positive happiness, the emotional opposite of deep sadness or grief.)
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upbeat (Informal; describes a lively, positive mood, unlike the heavy, serious tone of something mournful.)
Collocations
mournful eyes
|mournful voice
|mournful expression
|mournful song
|mournful look
|mournful tone
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|art
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Her dark, mournful eyes told us she was still grieving for her father.
- A slow, mournful song played softly in the background during the memorial.
- He let out a long, mournful sigh when he heard the bad news.
- The empty playground looked strangely mournful in the cold autumn rain.
- In a low, mournful voice, the actor described the character’s final loss.
Learner examples
- She had a mournful face at the funeral.
- We listened to a quiet, mournful song.
- The dog gave a mournful cry when its owner left.
- His voice was low and mournful.
- The old house looked dark and mournful at night.
Grammar
Dictionary form
mournful
IPA
GB/mˈɔɹnfəl/
US/mˈɔɹnfəl/
Syllables & stress
mourn - ful (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (mourn)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: mournful
Word family
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.