Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Filled with or expressing sorrow; mournful: "Doleful" describes something that is deeply sad, gloomy, or causing feelings of grief.
   • Evoking sadness: It can also describe something that inspires or brings about a sense of melancholy.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The doleful sound of the distant church bell echoed through the empty streets.
  • She gave a doleful sigh as she read the sad letter.
  • His doleful eyes told the story of his loss more than any words could.

Advanced Usage

• "doleful countenance": a facial expression that is very sad or sorrowful.
  • Despite the good news, he maintained a doleful countenance.
• "doleful tones": a way of speaking or a sound that conveys deep sadness.
  • The singer's doleful tones moved the entire audience to tears.

Variants and Related Words

• Dolefully (adverb): in a sad or mournful manner.
  • He shook his head dolefully.
• Dolefulness (noun): the state or quality of being sad and mournful.
  • The dolefulness in her voice was unmistakable.

Synonyms

• Mournful: expressing sorrow or grief.
• Melancholy: a feeling of pensive sadness.
• Lugubrious: looking or sounding sad and dismal.
• Woeful: characterized by, expressive of, or causing sorrow or misery.

Antonyms

• Joyful: feeling, expressing, or causing great pleasure and happiness.
• Cheerful: noticeably happy and optimistic.
• Jubilant: feeling or expressing great happiness and triumph.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• A doleful tale: a very sad story or account.
  • The old sailor began to tell us a doleful tale of shipwreck and survival.
• To wear a doleful look: to have a persistently sad expression.
  • Ever since his dog ran away, the boy has worn a doleful look.

Adjective

1. filled with or evoking sadness
   • the child's doleful expression
   • stared with mournful eyes
   • mournful news