adj
doleful
Doleful (adj) means looking or sounding very sad.
adj
1
Looking or sounding very sad.
"The doleful peal of the bell indicated another funeral was being held."
"“We face a doleful future,” said Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg, a former president of the National Academy of Medicine."
— Donald G. McNeil Jr, The Coronavirus in America: The Year Ahead (2020)
"A doleful expression that tugged at my heartstrings."
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Etymology
From Middle English doleful, doolful, deolful, equivalent to dole + -ful.
Related words
Rhymes for doleful
See all rhymes for doleful →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of doleful?
"doleful" (adj) means looking or sounding very sad.
What is another word for doleful?
Other words for "doleful" include mournful.
What is the opposite of doleful?
Opposites of "doleful" include joyful, happy, jovial, blithe, merry.
