woe 1 of 2

Definition of woenext

woe

2 of 2

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
And, like every other security woe, AI is making Mac malware worse than ever. Alan Henry, PC Magazine, 3 July 2026 Inconsistent moisture is also a big contributor to ficus woes, Hancock explains. Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 July 2026 In a blistering retort on Instagram, Paris’ deputy mayor Audrey Pulvar stepped into the arena on Grégoire’s behalf, blasting American commentators for mocking France’s climate woes while contributing the most to global emissions. Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 1 July 2026 The streamer is premiering a diverse array of series in July 2026, from the woes of communities gone wild in Worst Neighbor Ever to seeing inside the lives of a new band of football favorites in Quarterback season 3. Madeleine Janz, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for woe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for woe
Interjection
  • The girls, who have been aw-ing at Aniya’s love story with Carl, tell the boys to sit down.
    Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 1 July 2026
  • In the north of the British Isles, people sometimes combined ye, a second person plural pronoun for you, along with aw, meaning all.
    Bill Chappell, NPR, 16 July 2025
Noun
  • Watch closely for signs of heat distress in yourself and others, including your neighbors and the elderly, Delaney said.
    Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Never upside down — The flag should never be displayed upside down except as a signal of distress.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 3 July 2026
Noun
  • Kara is addicted to drowning her sorrows and avoiding responsibility, but learns to embrace heroism after embarking on a quest for revenge alongside Ruthye (Eve Ridley).
    Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026
  • Parting is such sweet sorrow, but these guys aren’t going gently into the night just yet.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 25 June 2026
Interjection
  • With the wedding canceled, Enola attempts to juggle her investigations with easing Tewkesbury’s believably bruised heart, but alas, things just don’t slow down.
    Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 30 June 2026
  • The final day of June is here, alas, and the best month of the year is almost at an end.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Noun
  • Adding to Rezaeian’s agony, right before the final whistle another potential clincher, a header from Khalilzadeh, hit the crossbar.
    Sean Gregory, Time, 28 June 2026
  • The agony of Sudan runs deep; its history is crisscrossed with blood.
    Janine di Giovanni, Vanity Fair, 25 June 2026
Noun
  • Some mourners, gathering at the funeral of Iran’s slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran on Saturday, expressed both anguish and a desire for vengeance.
    Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
  • And with that decision, the company narrowed the chance that the mother’s anguish could draw attention to any danger the formula might pose to other infants.
    David Hilzenrath, USA Today, 2 July 2026
Noun
  • The Charlotte region will start feeling like a frying pan come Wednesday, and forecasters expect the sticky misery to linger into next week.
    Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 30 June 2026
  • But the misery of the heat would add to the story told over natural wine at a bar back home.
    Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 27 June 2026
Noun
  • After learning that her friend Shannon’s mother has died in a car accident, Elle is suddenly facing her first real encounter with grief and, unable to sit with it, throws herself into planning the memorial, down to selecting the music.
    Angelina Mazza, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • This town has known seasons of many stripes, from that autumn of grief after 9/11 to that spring of solitude and trepidation as COVID-19 first emerged.
    ABC News, ABC News, 2 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Woe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/woe. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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