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woe

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noun

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word woe different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of woe are anguish, grief, regret, and sorrow. While all these words mean "distress of mind," woe is deep or inconsolable grief or misery.

cries of woe echoed throughout the bombed city

When is it sensible to use anguish instead of woe?

The meanings of anguish and woe largely overlap; however, anguish suggests torturing grief or dread.

the anguish felt by the parents of the kidnapped child

When is grief a more appropriate choice than woe?

The words grief and woe can be used in similar contexts, but grief implies poignant sorrow for an immediate cause.

the inexpressible grief of the bereaved parents

Where would regret be a reasonable alternative to woe?

While the synonyms regret and woe are close in meaning, regret implies pain caused by deep disappointment, fruitless longing, or unavailing remorse.

nagging regret for missed opportunities

When can sorrow be used instead of woe?

While in some cases nearly identical to woe, sorrow implies a sense of loss or a sense of guilt and remorse.

a family united in sorrow upon the patriarch's death

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 woe
Noun
Drew, meanwhile, is dealing with her own set of legal woes. Shelby Stewart, Essence, 24 Mar. 2025 For, being not mad but sensible of grief, My reasonable part produces reason How I may be delivered of these woes, And teaches me to kill or hang myself. Yiyun Li, The New Yorker, 23 Mar. 2025 The conversation topics range from local food to how to solve our infrastructure woes. Chelsea Brasted, Axios, 21 Mar. 2025 Horn, though, believes the front office and coaching staff are dead-set on fixing those woes. Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 17 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for woe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for woe
Interjection
  • Highlights include a costume parade (for kids and parents), a Purim story and boo Haman and songs.
    Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2024
  • Volunteer yourself to help with X, Y and Z accommodations if that lightens the family’s workload, without saying boo about the couple’s choices.
    Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 18 Jan. 2024
Noun
  • At the Santa Monica test location after the rains, the level of beryllium — a metal that is toxic to fish and corals and causes respiratory distress in humans — was more than 10 times the maximum limit allowed.
    Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2025
  • The result: Some doctors and hospitals have held back on treatments, waiting for the fetal heartbeat to stop or for patients to wind up in undeniable distress.
    Kavitha Surana, ProPublica, 27 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • In this moment of sorrow, my thoughts and those of the entire Formula 1 family are with his family and loved ones'.
    Dan Cancian, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
  • McIlroy expressed his sorrow and predicted that the 15-time major champion will be unable to play for the rest of the season.
    Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Another video showed a woman wailing in agony over one of the victims.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2025
  • On a nation’s struggle and agony; the nature of democracy; Trump vs. Canada; and more On Monday, next to the Hudson River in New York, there was a demonstration.
    Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 12 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Her teammates surrounded her, doing their best to block her anguish from the view of nearby photographers, before trainers arrived to help her.
    Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2025
  • Hiding your anguish while pretending to be excited.
    Melissa Willets, Parents, 25 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Former Spurs man Ryan Sessegnon put the game beyond doubt with minutes remaining, curling into the top corner to further compile the travelling supporters’ misery.
    Elias Burke, The Athletic, 17 Mar. 2025
  • Rick’s revenge fantasy might be more of a death drive, a desire to finally end his misery at the barrel of a stranger’s gun.
    Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • In that moment of grief and exhaustion, something shifted.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
  • Each situation is unique but these conversations can have a huge impact on the experience of grief, leaving us with no regrets or words unsaid.
    Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 25 Mar. 2025
Interjection
  • Studies of fathers have generated some alarmist headlines over the years, and Hrdy has kindly collated them: no dad joke: fatherhood shrinks the brain; aw, nuts!
    Dan Piepenbring, Harper's Magazine, 30 Mar. 2024
  • And then … aw, just cue up the video player for the epic Francisco Lindor homer that won this thing!
    Jayson Stark, The Athletic, 27 Dec. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Woe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/woe. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

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