mirthless

adjective

Definition of mirthlessnext
as in woebegone

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of mirthless One thing the record makes clear is that Anderson is not afraid to mix humor into her work, proving that avant-garde performance mustn’t be mirthless or without joy. — David Harris, SPIN, 11 May 2026 Historically, autocrats are a mirthless bunch. — David Remnick, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2025 Splashes of elegance in gravestone carving appear as the mirthless old Puritans die, people get richer, and London goes royal. — Brian T. Allen, National Review, 19 July 2025 Yet there was a mirthless response from those around him; a realisation there was an element of truth to his chant. — Roshane Thomas, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024 His mirthless laugh might have suggested Kafkaesque persecution, or Hardyesque inexorability of fate. — Tad Friend, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mirthless
  1. woebegone
  2. cheerless
  3. sad
  4. lugubrious
  5. melancholy
  6. morose
  7. melancholic
  8. dejected
Adjective
  • Brewer was hired two years ago after more than a decade as head coach at perennial power Georgia, part of a commitment by the school and a motivated (and wealthy) alumni group willing to pump resources into a woebegone golf program.
    — Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 May 2026
  • After three seasons of almost nothing but dread and sorrow, the NBA’s most woebegone franchise, for generations, finally had a moment to celebrate.
    — David Aldridge, New York Times, 11 May 2026
Definition of woebegone
Adjective
  • The storm let up before daybreak, but the morning was gray and cheerless with a cold wind.
    — Elwyn "Bud" Myers, Outdoor Life, 11 Mar. 2026
  • Gomez gestured across the street toward 100 Centre Street—the criminal courthouse, a cheerless Art Deco building the color of cinder blocks.
    — Sarah Lustbader, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
Definition of cheerless
Adjective
  • This formula carried his last offering, the funny and sad, Colin Farrell-led The Banshees of Inisherin to nine Oscar nominations in 2022.
    — Radhika Seth, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Hunter said it’s been sad to see photos of the devastation wrought by the fire.
    — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of sad
Adjective
  • Alongside Paul Mescal and one Joe Alwyn, this most lugubrious of WhatsApp group chats is supposedly the inspiration behind Swift’s album, The Tortured Poets Department.
    — Ben Jureidini, Vanity Fair, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Reaction has been predictably lugubrious, although laced with gratitude and occasional humor.
    — Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 19 June 2026
Definition of lugubrious
Adjective
  • The strength of the novel — and the source of its melancholy tone — is in its scope.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Forte, and everyone else in the room, loved it, and as the lights went up, doubt and melancholy turned into frustration and confusion.
    — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of melancholy
Adjective
  • But the sympathy in his voice keeps things from becoming too morose.
    — Brendan Hay, SPIN, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The first leg will be the ever-popular third-place playoff, in which a couple of morose losers compete for no trophy at all and a chance to show off the superior sourness of their grapes.
    — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 17 July 2026
Definition of morose
Adjective
  • But for all of his music guaranteed to prod a melancholic moment, Taylor didn’t snub the buoyant offerings from his heady catalog.
    — Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Kamali, who was born and raised in Germany, studied for her masters in London, and now resides in Paris as the creative director of Chloé, has the soft, melancholic presence of a Pre-Raphaelite muse.
    — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of melancholic
Adjective
  • In Brand New Day, Peter resumes his duties as a friendly neighborhood superhero in New York City, but also remains dejected that MJ (Zendaya) and Ned (Jacob Batalon) are moving on with their lives without any memory of his love and friendship.
    — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
  • The sea of yellow applauding the efforts of the dejected Brazilian players who milled about, seemingly unwilling to accept that a match that took so long to really get going was over so quickly.
    — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
Definition of dejected

Browse Nearby Words

mirthfulness
mirthless
mirthlessly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mirthless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mirthless. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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