doleful
DOHL-ful
/ˈdəʊl.fəl/
Expressing sorrow; mournful or sorrowful.
Focuses on the outward sound or appearance that communicates sorrow, such as eyes, tunes, or expressions.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'dolere' (to grieve), which passed into Anglo-French as 'dole' (grief). Adding '-ful' created an adjective describing someone or something visibly full of pain and sorrow.
Word relationships
- woeful: Woeful emphasizes misery or wretched conditions.
- plaintive: Plaintive specifically highlights a high, mournful, or crying sound.
- joyful: Joyful expresses profound delight and happiness.
- blithe: Blithe indicates a casual, carefree, and cheerful indifference.
Commonly confused with
- indolent: Indolent means lazy or avoiding exertion, whereas doleful means full of grief.
Word family
- dolefully (adverb): In a sorrowful or mournful manner.
- dolefulness (noun): Mournfulness or sorrowful appearance.
Collocations
- doleful eyes
- doleful expression
- doleful sound
- doleful glance
Idioms & expressions
- singing the blues
Example sentences
- "The basset hound looked up with doleful eyes as its owner prepared to leave for work." Describing animals
- "A doleful tolling of church bells echoed through the foggy valley." Literary description
Memory hook
A DOLL FULL of sorrow looking out the window with doleful eyes. Visibly full of sorrow.
When not to use
Do not use to describe physical objects unless personifying them.
Fun facts
- The root 'dolere' also gives us 'condolence' (grieving together) and 'dolorous' (painful).
Related words
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