humorless

adjective

ˈhyü-mər-ləs How to pronounce humorless (audio)
Definition of humorlessnext
as in solemn
not joking or playful in mood or manner humorless people who can't see the lighter side of life

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of humorless Credit perhaps goes to Belew’s fellowship with Zappa, or Fripp’s growing resistance to being pegged as some humorless tyrant. — Sam Sodomsky, Pitchfork, 11 Jan. 2026 Patton, a notoriously tough and humorless commander, considered Willy and Joe to be a threat to discipline and morale — quite the opposite of the way many fans saw them. — Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026 The woman’s gray hair, her sunglasses, her sharp nose, her soft chin, and her utterly humorless expression contrasted with the almost cartoonish proportion of her political expression. — Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2025 Walker joins as the imposing, entitled and humorless Peter Van Laar III, the wealthy heir to the Van Laar estate, whose behavior is a struggle for both his wife, Alice, and 13-year-old daughter. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 28 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for humorless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humorless
  1. solemn
  2. serious
  3. stern
  4. unsmiling
  5. earnest
Adjective
  • Ureña, a 22-year-old right-hander who has emerged as another potential ace, speaks of Soriano with a giddy amusement mixed with a solemn respect for how the starter has survived in the big leagues.
    — Liana Handler, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
  • Dozens of firefighters lined the street in a solemn salute to their fallen colleagues.
    — Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 29 June 2026
Definition of solemn
Adjective
  • Beijing has and been accused of serious human violations, including large-scale arbitrary detention of Uyghur and other Muslim minorities, in Xinjiang.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 1 July 2026
  • Prosecutors said Anthony Edmond and Rafael Enriquez face the most serious charges, including conspiracy involving firearms trafficking, machineguns and drug trafficking.
    — Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of serious
Adjective
  • England, which has been patchy so far, poses the sternest test yet for the co-hosts.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 3 July 2026
  • With upcoming opponents Croatia providing a sterner test in possession, Portugal’s defensive display will be under greater scrutiny.
    — Mark Carey, New York Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of stern
Adjective
  • In the clip, Josie has a serious, unsmiling expression, which created a humorous contrast with the celebratory scene around her.
    — Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026
  • Real, unsmiling, circa-1400 Vikings like Eric the Red and Hagar the Horrible.
    — Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 6 June 2026
Definition of unsmiling
Adjective
  • What Kenzie describes — the discovery that belonging generates effort, that trust compounds, that earnest investment in an institution can be returned — is precisely what defensive foreclosure costs.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 6 July 2026
  • The earnest post follows a flurry of recent activity on Biden's social media.
    — Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026
Definition of earnest

Browse Nearby Words

humorists
humorless
humorlessness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Humorless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humorless. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on humorless

Nglish: Translation of humorless for Spanish Speakers

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