lugubrious
adjective C2
Plain meaning
looking or sounding very sad, gloomy, or mournful
Exam-register meaning
excessively mournful or gloomily solemn in tone or appearance
In context
naturalHe answered in a lugubrious voice, as if the world had ended.
examThe poem’s lugubrious imagery reinforces its meditation on loss.
Common collocations
lugubrious tonelugubrious voicelugubrious expression
Watch out
Lugubrious is often slightly literary; avoid it in simple everyday writing.
Word family
lugubriously (adverb)lugubriousness (noun)