humorless

/ˈhjuːmələs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈhjuːmərləs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈhyü-mər-ləs/ (ame, mw)

humorless — adjective

  • humorlesspositive
  • more humorlesscomparative
  • most humorlesssuperlative

1. Someone who is humorless never finds things amusing and does not laugh or joke,

1.形容詞B2
釋義

Someone who is humorless never finds things amusing and does not laugh or joke, even when the people around them are smiling or laughing at something.

例句

Xin's colleagues found her humorless because she never smiled at their jokes during lunch breaks.

stative sense: found + object + humorless (describing character)

The teacher's humorless expression made the children afraid to speak up in class.

collocation: humorless expression

同義詞
  • serious

    a neutral word; humorless always carries a negative judgment, while serious can be neutral or positive

  • grim

    stronger and more negative, suggesting a harsh or forbidding manner rather than simply a lack of humour

  • straight-faced

    describes keeping a serious expression while saying something funny; not the same as being unable to find things funny

反義詞
  • humorous

    direct opposite — able to see or create humour

  • funny

    describes a person who makes others laugh, not just one who laughs at things

用法筆記

Also written humourless in British English. The word is usually critical — it suggests that someone is too serious and does not share in the enjoyment that others feel.