1
as in sadness
a state or spell of low spirits
with the resigned dolefulness of an athlete who knows his playing days are over, he cleared out his locker for the last time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sorrow
deep sadness especially for the loss of someone or something loved
a period of dolefulness that seemed to last forever for the widower
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dolefulness
Noun
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Regarding the Armani company, Nicolas Hieronimus, chief executive officer of L’Oréal, during a call Tuesday evening with analysts and journalists to discuss third-quarter and nine-months results reiterated sadness in the passing of Giorgio Armani, with whom the group collaborated for 40 years.—
Footwear News,
Footwear News,
21 Oct. 2025 -
Keep in mind, sadness may not be the only emotion kids show.—
Hannah Nwoko,
Parents,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Joy, love, and meaningful connections remain possible beyond the sorrow, stigma, and isolation that often accompany a diagnosis.—
Essence,
Essence,
21 Oct. 2025
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This grim reality evokes a sense of sorrow and powerlessness among women in Paina Bujurg.—
Aishwarya S. Iyer,
CNN Money,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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If conditions are right, the clusters swirl into a storm known as a tropical wave or tropical depression.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
25 Oct. 2025
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This grounding technique is meant to relieve anxiety, stress, depression, and PTSD.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The shock that images of the destruction provoke—the grief so many have felt—is not an overreaction to the loss of a beloved building.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
25 Oct. 2025
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This was what brought him to grief.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Days full of anguish Thousands of miles away from the ICE detention facility in Michigan, Aurelquis Gómez visits her nephew Noah often.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
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Director Josh Boone will cut to a goofy montage right after a moment when a character is supposed to be mired in anguish.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The manager who is so often the picture of calm had reddened eyes, a hint of melancholy in his voice.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
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The pop icon’s 12th album, released at midnight on Friday, is being hailed for the singer’s return to upbeat pop following last year’s melancholy The Tortured Poets Department, with Swift reuniting with Swedish hitmaker producers Max Martin and Shellback.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Dolefulness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dolefulness. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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