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Showing results for joyless. Search instead for joyle.
Definitions

joyless

[joi-lis] / ˈdʒɔɪ lɪs /
ADJECTIVE
unhappy
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bleak dejected depressing dismal downcast dreary miserable
WEAK
black blue cheerless depressant depressed dispirited dispiriting doleful down in the mouth dragged droopy gloomy have the blahs heavy low melancholic melancholy mopey mournful sad saddening somber
Antonyms
STRONGEST
bright cheerful elated encouraging glad happy light pleasant
WEAK
delighted joyful

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Shrinking perks and growing fears about AI are turning offices into joyless places.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

Leadership sets the tone, and right now that tone feels tense and joyless.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 21, 2026

There was a Lions tour four years ago but it was a joyless grind in Covid times, so you could argue that Saturday has been eight years in the making and not four.

From BBC • Jul. 18, 2025

I agree with Molly Jong-Fast that the tone of non-stop outrage from that era backfired, by making liberals seem joyless and hysterical.

From Salon • Nov. 22, 2024

I drank it anyway, in several joyless gulps, hoping for a jolt of energy that never came.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.