woe 1 of 2

woe

2 of 2

noun

1
2

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
Routine maintenance can help Americans avoid repair cost woes. Charles Singh, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025 The Cardinals continue to win at home and have fixed their road woes from the beginning of the year, keeping them in the mix. Hunter Mulholland, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025 Such a move would be very much focused on addressing Apple’s short-term AI woes. Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 1 July 2025 While farming is all around a difficult industry, roe comes with its own woes. Kylie Williams, Miami Herald, 29 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for woe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for woe
Interjection
  • Williams also recalled witnessing the Super Bowl crowd boo Taylor Swift when she was shown on the jumbotron cheering on her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce.
    Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 17 Apr. 2025
  • 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
Noun
  • Extreme heat can also be an obstacle to exercising, spending time in nature, and socializing, all of which can make people feel good and also double as important coping mechanisms for emotional distress.
    Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 26 July 2025
  • The lawsuit alleges both Transdev, which contracts with Boston Public Schools to provide bus transportation, and the driver Jean Charles were negligent and inflicted emotional distress on the family.
    Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 25 July 2025
Noun
  • The world moves forward, but I'm suspended in a place of sorrow and rage.
    Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 July 2025
  • But the two consciously dug themselves out of sorrow and misery and eventually were able to establish a foundation in Ethan's name, Ethan's Smile, which has given scholarships to more than 80 students.
    Liz Kreutz, NBC news, 14 July 2025
Noun
  • With his wife in agony, Jason Nixdorf had a chance encounter with Zach Veigulis, a former chief data scientist at the Department of Veterans Affairs who was co-founding a company to help patients battle insurance company denials.
    Gretchen Morgenson, NBC news, 18 July 2025
  • Thank God that my family members could get vaccinated and have been free of the pain and agony of these illnesses.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 7 July 2025
Noun
  • But the first lady and I are here in Texas to express the love and support and the anguish of our entire nation in the aftermath of this really horrific and deadly flood.
    Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 11 July 2025
  • Ming-Na Wen Tapped Into Deep Emotions To Play Dr. Fong In ‘Karate Kid: Legends’ While Ming-Na Wen doesn’t throw a punch in Karate Kid: Legends, that doesn’t mean her character hasn’t been in past battles, particularly those dealing with mental anguish.
    Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
Noun
  • Their relative misery even exceeds that of the Afghans and Iraqis.
    John Tamny, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
  • Meanwhile, Trump’s tariffs, his big, ugly budget bill, and the havoc that his immigration raids are spreading in the vulnerable industries of agriculture, hospitality and construction will inflict misery on all but the wealthiest sectors of the economy.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 18 July 2025
Noun
  • But this time, grief and fear were tinged with a fleeting hope for change that quickly gave way to despair.
    Dan Bilefsky, HollywoodReporter, 25 July 2025
  • Yes, the money is important, but the grief from your father’s death and the confusion around the inheritance have created wounds that money wouldn’t fix.
    Eric Thomas, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 July 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Woe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/woe. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on woe

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!