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Doleful - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Doleful means expressing sorrow or sadness, often in a mournful or melancholy way. It describes a person’s appearance, tone, or mood that shows deep unhappiness or grief.

doleful

/ˈdoʊlfəl/ /ˈdəʊlf(ə)l/

Definition:

Expressing sorrow or melancholy; mournful in appearance or tone.

Synonyms:

mournful, sorrowful, melancholy, gloomy

Part of Speech:

adjective

Antonyms:

cheerful, joyful

Common Collocations:

doleful expression, doleful sigh, doleful melody

Derivatives:

dolefully, dolefulness

Usage Tips:

Use "doleful" to describe a sad or mournful expression, tone, or atmosphere.

Common Phrases:

doleful look, doleful cry, doleful tale

Etymology:

From Middle English "dole" (grief) + "-ful," meaning full of grief or sorrow.

Examples:

  • 1. The dog gave a doleful whine when left alone.
  • 2. Her doleful eyes revealed her sadness.
  • 3. He sang a doleful song about lost love.
  • 4. The rainy weather matched his doleful mood.

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