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mournfulness

mournfulness

1 6.5
A deep, quiet feeling or look of sadness
  • noun
  • /ˈmɔrnfələs/
translation icon : tristeza
  • The mournfulness in her voice revealed the depth of her sorrow after the loss of her beloved pet.

Examples

  • As the track progresses, it reveals some truly virtuosic ocarina/flute playing that carries both mournfulness and joy.

    Blog text (25)
  • He rolled his eyes expressively, pursing his jolly little mouth into something as close to mournfulness as could be managed within the limitations of its shape.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • More specifically, I would argue that for both the fictional readers depicted within the world of the narrative and for actual readers of Conrad's novella, the text's pervasive language of brooding and mournfulness creates a distinct sense of unease.

    Academic text (2018)
  • After the old man's passing, a profound mournfulness settled over the entire community.

  • As they listened to the somber music, a sense of mournfulness filled the room, reflecting their shared grief.

Synonyms

grief
vsmournfulness
443 2.1

Deep sadness after you lose someone or something important

is similarly deep but not limited to loss situations
sadness
vsmournfulness
229 1.0

A feeling of being unhappy

is deeper and more solemn than ordinary unhappiness
deep sorrow
vsmournfulness
4 3.7

A very strong feeling of sadness after a great loss

is similar but used as a general feeling or appearance
somberness
vsmournfulness
  • US
1 6.5

A serious, sad mood that feels quiet and heavy

is focused more on deep inner sorrow rather than seriousness alone
dolefulness
vsmournfulness
9.0

Deep, quiet sadness often caused by grief

is equally deep but described as a general feeling or look
sorrowfulness
vsmournfulness
6.3

A deep feeling of sadness about a loss

is the same deep feeling but framed as a lasting mood
heavyheartedness
vsmournfulness
7.7

A feeling of deep sadness and loss

is the same inward mood but also can be an outward look
brokenheartedness
vsmournfulness
7.5

Deep sadness after losing someone you love

is similar depth but applies to sorrow more generally
glumness
vsmournfulness
6.6

A quiet feeling of sadness and low spirits

is a deeper, more solemn form of that low mood
funereal expression
vsmournfulness
8.4

A very sad, serious look that shows deep sadness

is the inner sorrowful feeling rather than only a facial expression
weepiness
vsmournfulness
6.1

A feeling that makes someone want to cry

is more about deep, steady sadness than tearful reactions
tearfulness
vsmournfulness
4.3

A feeling of having many tears and wanting to cry because of sadness

is a deeper, more general feeling rather than just crying tendency
sorriness
vsmournfulness
6.3

A feeling of regret or sadness about something you did

is focused narrowly on deep sorrow without regret emphasis

Antonyms

4 1.0

A happy mood that makes you smile and helps others feel good

1 2.0

A strong feeling of happiness and excitement

How Sad

anguish
96 6.8
grief
443 2.1
mournfulness
1 6.5
to sorrow
6 5.2
sadness
229 1.0

Surface Forms

mournfulness singular

Morphology

mournfulness = mournful (transparent) = mourn + ful + ness

Derived by regular adjective-to-noun formation: 'mournful' + '-ness' denotes the state of being mournful and is predictable from the base.

Etymology

Mournfulness comes from mourn, which means 'to feel deep sadness', plus the endings -ful meaning 'full of' and -ness meaning 'the state of'. So mournfulness is simply the state of being full of mourning or deep sorrow.