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Saturday, July 25, 2026
Word of the Day

lugubrious

adjective

Looking or sounding sad and dismal; mournful in an exaggerated or affected way. Often suggests excessive or theatrical sadness.

Advanced - Used in formal or literary contexts

Etymology

From Latin "lugubris" (mournful), from "lugere" (to mourn). The word carries connotations of mourning that may be overdone.

Examples in Use

  • 1.

    "The lugubrious music set a somber tone for the memorial."

  • 2.

    "His lugubrious expression seemed disproportionate to the minor setback."

  • 3.

    "The basset hound's lugubrious face belied its cheerful personality."

Related Vocabulary

Synonyms

mournfulsorrowfulmelancholygloomy

Related Words

dismaldolefulfunerealwoebegone

Fun Fact

Basset hounds are often called "lugubrious" for their droopy faces. Their sad appearance evolved for function—loose skin folds trap scent particles, making them excellent tracking dogs despite looking perpetually mournful.

Word Game Tips

Letters: 10 letters (L, U, G, U, B, R, I, O, U, S)

Scrabble Value: 13 points

Tip: The letter pattern in "LUGUBRIOUS" appears in many related words.

Put Your Vocabulary to the Test!

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