Standard Lemma guide

joylessness

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The state or condition of being joyless; lack of joy.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: anhedonia, unjoy

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

a feeling of dismal cheerlessness

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: cheerlessness, uncheerfulness

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English joyless Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English joylessness From joyless + -ness.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: ilottomuus — lack of joy
  • Irish: duáilce — lack of joy
  • Irish: duáilceas — lack of joy
  • Irish: duairceas — lack of joy
  • Irish: gruaim — lack of joy
  • Macedonian: безрадосност (bezradosnost) — lack of joy
  • Manx: groamid — lack of joy
  • Manx: neuvoggoilid — lack of joy