as in sad
feeling unhappiness
after a disastrous date like that, anyone would be down in the mouth
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 down in the mouth
The movie feels more than a little down in the mouth, even with its string of cliffhangers, some visually impressive, tied together with some ill-fitting comic relief.
—
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 1 July 2025
Many of our emotion terms are references to states of the body—we’re downcast, bent out of shape, head over heels, shaken up, down in the mouth—which have slowly rigidified into dead metaphor.
—Nikhil Krishnan, The New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2022
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 1 July 2025
Many of our emotion terms are references to states of the body—we’re downcast, bent out of shape, head over heels, shaken up, down in the mouth—which have slowly rigidified into dead metaphor.
—Nikhil Krishnan, The New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for down in the mouth
Adjective
-
The failure of so many in the political world to speak up displays a sad and growing moral bankruptcy.—
Bobby Zirkin,
Baltimore Sun,
14 May 2026
-
Don’t be sad — this is not a farewell forever.—
Denni Hu,
Footwear News,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
Russian military boggers have a lot to be unhappy about.—
David Hambling,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
-
But affordability concerns have left many Americans unhappy about the economy, which could lead to major political ramifications for the midterm elections.—
Lucy Bayly,
CNN Money,
22 May 2026
Adjective
-
Margaret Prior is almost thirty, unmarried, depressed, and living with her overbearing mother.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 May 2026
-
Morris is lonely and depressed.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
25 May 2026
Adjective
-
Barragán’s mother was heartbroken to learn that Brian’s address placed him in Lagos.—
Dan Piepenbring,
Harpers Magazine,
26 May 2026
-
One of the heartbroken is his Richard Childress Racing teammate Austin Dillon, the grandson of Childress, a 2017 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee.—
Chase Jordan
May 22,
Charlotte Observer,
22 May 2026
Adjective
-
In the second round against the Sabres, the Canadiens adapted to a highly mobile and skilled defense corps that regularly jumped into the rush and made life miserable defensively.—
Sean Gentille,
New York Times,
23 May 2026
-
Their hitting coach, pitching coach and manager Kurt Suzuki‘s terrible management are much higher on the list of what’s wrong with this miserable team this year.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 May 2026
Adjective
-
There’s nothing worse than arriving at your destination only to realize your shoes were a terrible choice.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
25 May 2026
-
Despite a weekend sweep of the Rangers, the Angels are tied for worst record in baseball and their fans are fed up with owner Arte Moreno’s leadership.—
Joaquin Ruiz,
Los Angeles Times,
25 May 2026
Adjective
-
For those who’ve been following the series closely, the Ars staff is sorry for the long gap!—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
25 May 2026
-
And, sorry to the Skywalkers, but this is Mando (Pedro Pascal) and Grogu's time to shine.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 May 2026
Adjective
-
The moment capped a chaotic rivalry game between the reigning Open Division champions and a Kennedy team that was pushing for an upset, with defensive miscues helping shape the late innings for both sides.—
Ethan Hanson,
Daily News,
23 May 2026
-
But the cash Levine pumped into his own campaign — about one-fifth of his net worth at the time — wasn’t enough to beat Gillum, the former Tallahassee mayor, a progressive who won the primary in a stunning upset.—
Aaron Leibowitz,
Miami Herald,
23 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Down in the mouth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/down%20in%20the%20mouth. Accessed 28 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
