Doleful-eyed

Characterized by eyes that express or convey sadness, sorrow, or unhappiness. The adjective combines 'doleful,' meaning sorrowful or mournful, with 'eyed,' emphasizing the visual expression of this emotional state. It suggests a deep, often persistent, melancholic disposition reflected in the eyes. This gaze might be heavy, world-weary, or simply conveying a sense of loss or disappointment, painting a vivid picture of inner emotional distress through the window of the eyes. The term is often used to describe a person or creature exhibiting a sustained state of subdued grief or pensive dejection.

Doleful-eyed meaning with examples

• The stray dog, with its doleful-eyed gaze, sat by the shelter gate, silently pleading for a home. Its eyes seemed to hold the weight of every abandonment it had ever faced, a constant reminder of its longing for care and a place to belong, a truly heartbreaking sight.
• After the loss of his grandmother, he walked slowly, his doleful-eyed stare fixed on the ground. The world had lost its brightness, and his once vibrant eyes now reflected a profound sense of grief, a mournful symphony of loss.
• The painting depicted a young girl with a doleful-eyed expression staring out at a storm-swept sea. Her eyes held a depth of unspoken sadness, communicating a sense of profound isolation and foreshadowing a challenging journey ahead for her soul.
• The old, gray wolf's doleful-eyed look spoke volumes of hardship endured across the vast wilderness. They captured a poignant understanding of life's harsh realities and the endurance required to survive in a unforgiving world.
• Witnessing the aftermath of the disaster, she looked around with doleful-eyed regret for those who had lost everything. Her eyes mirrored the desolation, expressing a deep sense of empathy for the suffering, radiating the anguish of others.