mournful

/ˈmɔːnfl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmɔːrnfl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmȯrn-fəl/ (ame, mw)

mournful — adjective

  • mournfulpositive
  • more mournfulcomparative
  • most mournfulsuperlative

1. feeling or showing great sadness in a quiet, heartfelt way — the kind of sadness

1.形容詞B2
釋義

feeling or showing great sadness in a quiet, heartfelt way — the kind of sadness you might express through a soft voice, a bowed head, or tear-filled eyes.

例句

Kwame's mournful voice trembled as he read the letter from his late grandmother.

collocation: mournful voice

A mournful melody drifted from the old piano in the empty hall.

同義詞
  • sorrowful

    very close in meaning but slightly less literary; can describe both people and events

  • doleful

    emphasises a comical or exaggerated sadness in appearance or sound

  • plaintive

    used almost exclusively for sounds — voices, cries, or music — that express sadness

  • woeful

    more dramatic and sometimes humorous; suggests misfortune or regret

反義詞
  • joyful

    expressing or feeling great happiness

  • cheerful

    noticeably happy and positive in mood or manner

用法筆記

Stronger and more literary than 'sad'. Typically describes facial expressions, voices, music, or artistic works rather than everyday disappointments.

常見錯誤

❌I felt mournful when I missed the bus.
✅I felt annoyed when I missed the bus.
💡'Mournful' implies deep, heartfelt grief; it is too strong for minor daily frustrations.

2. making you feel sad, depressed, or gloomy because of a bleak, dreary, or desolat

2.形容詞B2
釋義

making you feel sad, depressed, or gloomy because of a bleak, dreary, or desolate quality — like a grey sky over empty fields, or a long, low sound in the dark.

例句

A mournful foghorn sounded every few seconds across the misty harbour.

collocation: mournful + sound noun (foghorn, wind, bell)

The abandoned school had a mournful look with its broken windows and empty playground.

同義詞
  • gloomy

    more common and slightly less strong; suggests darkness or pessimism

  • dismal

    emphasises a depressing, cheerless quality — often of weather or places

  • dreary

    focuses on dull, boring sadness — repetitive or colourless

  • somber

    suggests seriousness and gravity rather than emotional sadness

反義詞
  • cheerful

    bright and pleasant, lifting the mood

  • bright

    full of light, hope, and energy; the opposite of a gloomy atmosphere

用法筆記

Frequently used of places, weather, sounds, and atmospheres rather than people. Unlike sense 1, this meaning describes something that evokes sadness in the observer rather than expressing the sadness of the subject itself.

常見錯誤

❌The room was mournful of the dead cat.
✅The room had a mournful atmosphere after the cat died.
💡'Mournful' describes a quality or atmosphere, not about a specific event. Use 'sad about' for direct reference.