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
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 humorless
All this alarm and losing has made Democratic politics a rather miserable and humorless endeavor.
—
Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2025
But the finished product feels relatively humorless, leaving the cast looking silly in scenes that might conceivably have flown if played as deadpan comedy — not a tenor achieved or seemingly even aimed for here.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 10 Jan. 2025
Worst of all, Phillips has intentionally or unintentionally created a bizarro, humorless version of My Cousin Vinny.
—Alex Abad-Santos, Vox, 4 Oct. 2024
Creating online classrooms as ‘humorless’ venues deprives both teachers and students of an incredibly powerful communication asset.
—Maja Zelihic, Forbes, 21 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for humorless
Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2025
But the finished product feels relatively humorless, leaving the cast looking silly in scenes that might conceivably have flown if played as deadpan comedy — not a tenor achieved or seemingly even aimed for here.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 10 Jan. 2025
Worst of all, Phillips has intentionally or unintentionally created a bizarro, humorless version of My Cousin Vinny.
—Alex Abad-Santos, Vox, 4 Oct. 2024
Creating online classrooms as ‘humorless’ venues deprives both teachers and students of an incredibly powerful communication asset.
—Maja Zelihic, Forbes, 21 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for humorless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humorless
Adjective
-
Only the buzz of Israeli drones overhead filled the solemn silence.—
Freddie Clayton,
NBC news,
7 June 2025
-
The score becomes grand and syrupy whenever there’s a big emotional revelation; characters deliver solemn soliloquies on the orderly beauty of math.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
6 June 2025
Adjective
-
Make sure your plants are receiving enough water, and treat serious pest problems with neem oil or insecticidal soap.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
17 June 2025
-
Even 6 inches of moving water can pose a serious risk of knocking you off your feet.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
17 June 2025
Adjective
-
It’s submerged 11 to 15 feet deep, with its stern facing the shore.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
11 June 2025
-
Tonight: Explore! TAURUS (April 20-May 20) ★★★ Avoid arguments with others today, which might arise with Mercury in your House of Communications at odds with stern Saturn.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
9 June 2025
Adjective
-
The portrait's lack of background and Trump's unsmiling gaze further differentiates it from those of his predecessors.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
4 June 2025
-
And often next to Ed, holding a single malt, there would be an unsmiling writer of great pretension looking down at you from a great height.—
Gary Shteyngart,
The Atlantic,
4 June 2025
Adjective
-
Her brand is too earnest to accommodate irony or camp.—
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
9 June 2025
-
Any thought that this was exclusively earnest melts away at CGI Kermit, who is a little upsetting to see, but also maybe sort of heartwarming.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
6 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Humorless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humorless. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share