mirthless

adjective

mirth·​less ˈmərth-ləs How to pronounce mirthless (audio)
Synonyms of mirthlessnext
: containing no gaiety or joy
A vague mirthless grin contracted Liff Hyatt's face …— Edith Wharton
Voldemort turned his scarlet eyes upon Harry, laughing a high, cold, mirthless laugh.— J. K. Rowling
mirthlessly
ˈmərth-ləs-lē How to pronounce mirthless (audio)
adverb
mirthlessness noun

Examples of mirthless in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
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

Word History

Etymology

Middle English myrtheles, from myrthe mirth + -les -less

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mirthless was in the 15th century

Rhymes for mirthless

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Browse Nearby Words

mirthless
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Cite this Entry

“Mirthless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mirthless. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for mirthless

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