dolorous

(dō'lər-əs, dŏl'ər-)
adj.
Marked by or exhibiting sorrow, grief, or pain.

[Middle English, from Old French doloros, from Late Latin dolōrōsus, from dolor, dolor. See dolor.]

dolorously do'lor·ous·ly adv.
dolorousness do'lor·ous·ness n.

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The Wall Street Journal's online opinion page, in discussing the possibility of a recess appointment for John Bolton as US ambassador to the UN, took the opportunity to poke fun at Sen. George Voinovich:

"On the bright side, it would make for a dolorous 18 months for George Voinovich. "

Voinovich had previously broken down in tears on the Senate floor at the prospect of Bolton's ambassadorship.

Link: The Filibuster Is Back

Posted June 23, 2005.

See our Word Overheard blog to see interesting uses of strange words.

adjective

1. Full of or expressive of sorrow: doleful, lugubrious, mournful, plaintive, rueful, sad, sorrowful, woebegone, woeful. See happy/unhappy.
2. Causing sorrow or regret: deplorable, doleful, grievous, lamentable, mournful, regrettable, rueful, sad, sorrowful, woeful. See happy/unhappy.

adj

Definition: miserable, anguished
Antonyms: cheery, happy, hopeful

IN BRIEF: Causing sorrow.

Their dispatch is quick, and less dolorous than the paw of the bear or teeth of the lion. — Dr. H. More.

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For a list of words related to dolorous, see:

• Sad, Serious, Pessimistic, or Discontented

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See words rhyming with "dolorous."