Word a Day
doleful
What does doleful mean?
doleful (adjective): filled with grief, mournful, bringing feelings of sadness.
Definition: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
How do you use doleful in a sentence?
- The doleful peal of the bell indicated another funeral was being held. (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0)
- A doleful expression that tugged at my heartstrings. (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0)
How do you pronounce doleful?
/ˈdoʊlfəl/ (IPA, American English). The app reads every word aloud.
Where does doleful come from?
From Middle English doleful, doolful, deolful, equivalent to dole + -ful.
Etymology: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Test yourself: do you know “doleful”?
Tap an answer to check it. The same questions the app asks.
What does “doleful” mean?
occurring or coming into existence after a person's death
Not quite: that's what posthumous means.
showing willingness to take bold risks; recklessly daring
Not quite: that's what audacious means.
easily deceived or duped; naive, easily cheated or fooled
Not quite: that's what gullible means.
filled with grief, mournful, bringing feelings of sadness
Right! That's what “doleful” means.
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