1
as in mournful
expressing or suggesting mourning
the woeful expressions of the players after the humiliating loss
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2
as in sad
feeling unhappiness
never saw a more woeful-looking bunch than those campers sitting there in the drenching rain
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3
as in tragic
of a kind to cause great distress
the restaurant patron made the woeful discovery that he had left his wallet at home
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Recent Examples of woeful
The night was a downhill slope, a movement in woeful reverse, a tidal pull back into the tumult and dangerous madness of what must now be called the era of Trump.
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Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 25 Dec. 2024
Advertisement Despite the turmoil, Rodgers has passed for 23 touchdowns, with eight interceptions, for a team that has more talent than its woeful record indicates.
—Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2024
The biggest digit, of course, is the $16 million annually Harbaugh was awarded on a five-year deal to flip L.A.’s woeful script.
—Jay Paris, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
Pro Football Hall of Famer Troy Aikman expressed concern for Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams on Monday night amid a woeful season that saw the Bears’ losing streak drop to eight straight with a loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
—Paulina Dedaj, Fox News, 17 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for woeful 
Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 25 Dec. 2024
Advertisement Despite the turmoil, Rodgers has passed for 23 touchdowns, with eight interceptions, for a team that has more talent than its woeful record indicates.
—Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2024
The biggest digit, of course, is the $16 million annually Harbaugh was awarded on a five-year deal to flip L.A.’s woeful script.
—Jay Paris, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
Pro Football Hall of Famer Troy Aikman expressed concern for Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams on Monday night amid a woeful season that saw the Bears’ losing streak drop to eight straight with a loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
—Paulina Dedaj, Fox News, 17 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for woeful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for woeful
Adjective
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So, why not head next door — in a friendly way, not a mournful one — and express your natural curiosity?Philip Galanes, New York Times, 1 Jan. 2025
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Her observations as a woman once romantically involved with the two of them at the same time, confirm their masculine inability to speak their feelings out loud unless they are veiled in mournful songs.Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 28 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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But nothing in life is sadder than a reality television person who doesn't know when to retire.Dana Rose Falcone, People.com, 15 Jan. 2025
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Air France regrets this sad event and expresses its sincere condolences.Michael D. Carroll AND Theo Burman, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Of these three films, The Substance most clearly establishes that tension as something more than just tragic.Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 8 Jan. 2025
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In Maui, the fund supported those who lost homes in the tragic fires in Lahaina and Kula by delivering $60 million directly to residents’ bank accounts in six months.Matt Donnelly, Variety, 8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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And every day, across from them, outside the clinic, about to enter or just leaving, there were women hugging each other and weeping.David Mamet, National Review, 11 Aug. 2022
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The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.Helen Shaw, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2021
Adjective
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Ratings declined, Lynch was unhappy, and the show was canceled.Victoria Edel, People.com, 16 Jan. 2025
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Saquon Barkley is an unstoppable force, the defense is resurgent under Vic Fangio, the chatter about an unhappy A.J. Brown has mostly died down.Dianna Russini, The Athletic, 16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Having a professional to talk to can help process and unpack unfortunate changes, and point towards new possibilities.Chris Westfall, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
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Millions of businesses have been targeted, revealing the unfortunate truth: cybercrime has become a daily occurrence among various enterprises.William Jones, USA TODAY, 16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Probably train tomorrow for my sanity, but just frustrated and heartbroken.Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 12 Jan. 2025
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Her owner recently passed away unexpectedly, and Eartha was left heartbroken.Maryanne Dell, Orange County Register, 11 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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That faction left the stadium miserable after Daniels’ fifth touchdown pass, a 9-yarder to Jamison Crowder with six seconds remaining, capped a 22-point fourth quarter as Washington rallied for a 36-33 win.Ben Standig, The Athletic, 16 Jan. 2025
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But for Israel and Gaza, the past 15 months have been a miserable failure, and from the perspective of negotiation, the only good news is that both sides taste some of the bitterness.Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 16 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near woeful
Cite this Entry
“Woeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/woeful. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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