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Definition of joyless

joyless

/ˈdʒɔɪləs/
joy · less
Adverb:joylessly
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joyless Lexical Profile

joyless Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Neither feeling nor giving any pleasure, happiness, or satisfaction; bleak and cheerless.

Example

"They endured a long, joyless winter in the isolated mountain cabin."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for joyless

• Nearby Words

joyful
joyfully
joyfulness
joyless
joylessly
joylessness
joyous

Word Origin & Etymology

First attested in Middle English around the 13th century, formed from the noun 'joy' (from Old French 'joie', ultimately from Latin 'gaudium') combined with the native privative suffix '-less'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Joyless. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/joyless
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