lugubrious.

mournful or gloomy, often to an exaggerated or affected degree

Use it for

Words that belong together

• lugubrious voice
• lugubrious expression
• lugubrious air

On the page

The caretaker answered in a lugubrious voice.

A lugubrious portrait hung above the cheerful fire.

His lugubrious expression made every announcement sound like bad news.

Usage notes

Primary curation section: Gothic. More marked than sad; can imply that the display of sorrow is excessive. Formal or literary; unfavorable mood. Comparative: more lugubrious; superlative: most lugubrious. Related forms: lugubriously, lugubriousness.