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Glite Dictionary
funereal expression

funereal expression

8.4
A very sad, serious look that shows deep sadness
  • noun
  • /fjʊˈnɪrɪəl ɪkˈsprɛʃən/
translation icon : expresión fúnebre
  • He entered the room with a funereal expression, making everyone fall silent.

Examples

  • She wore a funereal expression during the ceremony.

  • Despite the festive atmosphere, his funereal expression stood out among the smiling faces.

  • Her funereal expression revealed the depth of her sorrow at the news.

  • Why does he have that funereal expression on his face?

  • She wore a funereal expression at the memorial service, reflecting her deep sorrow.

  • The actor's funereal expression during the dramatic scene conveyed the gravity of the moment.

  • His funereal expression made it clear that he was mourning the loss of his friend.

Synonyms

sober look
vsfunereal expression
1 5.1

A serious face that shows little or no emotion

is more deeply sad and clearly suggests mourning or deep solemnity

How Mournful

funereal expression
8.4
somberness
  • US
1 6.5
sad-faced
1 3.6

Surface Forms

funereal expression singular
funereal expressions plural

Morphology

funereal + expression

The meaning is directly compositional: 'funereal' (suggestive of a funeral or sadness) modifies 'expression' (a visible facial sign), so together they clearly mean a very sad or solemn look. This is a regular adjective + noun combination with no idiomatic shift, so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Funereal expression comes from the quiet faces you see at a 'funeral', where a funereal face is very still and sad and the expression shows deep sadness. So the phrase now means a very serious, mourning look, meaning 'very sad'.