1
as in mournful
expressing or suggesting mourning
the woeful expressions of the players after the humiliating loss
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sad
feeling unhappiness
never saw a more woeful-looking bunch than those campers sitting there in the drenching rain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of woeful
That and other violations of food safety caused a woeful Wednesday at Meat Eatery and Taproom, and Party Cake.
—
David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
Chicago missed 10 shots and had five turnovers during the woeful stretch.
—CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
Manager Craig Counsell said last week that the woeful ERAs in Arizona shouldn’t be a reason for alarm.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
UConn celebrated a 73-72 win emphatically, with Mullins the major hero after a game of woeful team shooting from three-point range.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for woeful
David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
Chicago missed 10 shots and had five turnovers during the woeful stretch.
—CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
Manager Craig Counsell said last week that the woeful ERAs in Arizona shouldn’t be a reason for alarm.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
UConn celebrated a 73-72 win emphatically, with Mullins the major hero after a game of woeful team shooting from three-point range.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for woeful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for woeful
Adjective
-
The hour-long event included mournful hymns, prayers and the laying of wreaths by the participants, which included representatives from many countries around the world.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
His face, always stationed somewhere halfway to hangdog, seems to gain 20 new creases carved deep into his skin, accentuating his mournful eyes and his excruciated, heartbroken smile.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
As major college athletics continues to shift into for-profit, these types of sad measures are expected to continue, and private equity will continue to creep in.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 May 2026
-
And such a sad story for Positano, and this whole region.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
Bojorquez said Jones was a brave officer who had made a tragic mistake while rushing to the aid of victims.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
-
That’s especially true in the tragic murder of 7-year-old Athena Strand.—
Nicole Russell,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.—
Helen Shaw,
Vulture,
8 Dec. 2021
Adjective
-
There were also rumblings that Banchero was unhappy with Mosley, which began as early as November and continued throughout the season.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 May 2026
-
People are unhappy on a grand scale.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
3 May 2026
Adjective
-
But, yeah, that would be unfortunate.—
Ricky Sayer,
CBS News,
2 May 2026
-
In this unfortunate category, Amazon’s new feature for generating mini-podcast segments that shill for products on its shopping platform really takes the cake.—
Frank Landymore,
Futurism,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Gloria, her son, and Rickman moved to an apartment in the town of Tumwater in September 2021, and her heartbroken parents chose to sell their hotel.—
Paul LaRosa,
CBS News,
3 May 2026
-
The 17-year-old boy knifed to death during a clash with a stranger on a Bronx street was preparing to graduate and looking forward to his prom, his heartbroken mother said Thursday.—
Emma Seiwell,
New York Daily News,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Women say the women’s restrooms also are miserable, too.—
Charley Walters,
Twin Cities,
2 May 2026
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The Timberwolves, in general, and Jaden McDaniels, specifically, made life miserable for Murray in Game 6.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Woeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/woeful. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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