lugubrious

/lu:'gju:briəs/

Thân thiện

The old man's lugubrious expression matched the gray, rainy afternoon.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Excessively mournful, gloomy, or sad: Describes something that expresses or suggests an exaggerated, often theatrical, degree of sorrow, sadness, or melancholy. It often implies a quality that is overly dismal or mournful to the point of being somewhat absurd or affected.

Usage

• The word "lugubrious" is a formal adjective used to describe a person's expression, tone of voice, manner, or an atmosphere that is deeply and exaggeratedly sorrowful. It is not typically used for genuine, profound grief but rather for a performance or appearance of gloom that seems overdone.

Examples

• Adjective:
  • The actor delivered his lines in a lugubrious tone, making the sad scene unintentionally funny.
  • He wore a permanent, lugubrious expression, as if carrying the weight of the world.
  • The lugubrious music and dim lighting created a depressing atmosphere in the room.

Advanced Usage

• "Lugubrious sigh": A sigh that is dramatically sorrowful.
  • She let out a lugubrious sigh before recounting her minor inconvenience.
• "Lugubrious atmosphere": An environment that feels oppressively gloomy.
  • The abandoned mansion had a lugubrious atmosphere that discouraged visitors.

Variants and Related Words

• Lugubriously (adverb): In a mournful or gloomy manner.
  • He spoke lugubriously about the end of summer.
• Lugubriousness (noun): The quality of being lugubrious.
  • The lugubriousness of his poetry was both its signature and its limitation.

Synonyms

• Mournful: Feeling or expressing sorrow or grief.
• Melancholy: A feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause.
• Doleful: Expressing sorrow; mournful.
• Funereal: Having the solemn character of a funeral; dismal or mournful.

Antonyms

• Cheerful: Noticeably happy and optimistic.
• Joyful: Feeling, expressing, or causing great pleasure and happiness.
• Lighthearted: Cheerful and carefree.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "A lugubrious countenance": A face that looks very sad and gloomy.
  • Despite the good news, he maintained a lugubrious countenance.
• "In lugubrious tones": Speaking with a voice full of exaggerated sadness.
  • The guide described the castle's history in lugubrious tones.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. excessively mournful