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
The Miami Dolphins got steamrolled on Sunday afternoon by the Indianapolis Colts, and head coach Mike McDaniel wasted no time shouldering the blame for the woeful performance.
—
Hunter Mulholland, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
Each episode includes the woeful word in place of another.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
The memories, still fresh, both woeful and wonderful, came rushing back.
—Theoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 28 Aug. 2025
Improving this woeful reality is challenging, and schools aren’t well-positioned to be everything to everyone.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for woeful
Hunter Mulholland, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
Each episode includes the woeful word in place of another.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
The memories, still fresh, both woeful and wonderful, came rushing back.
—Theoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 28 Aug. 2025
Improving this woeful reality is challenging, and schools aren’t well-positioned to be everything to everyone.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for woeful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for woeful
Adjective
-
Her powerhouse voice, singing intensely sad words, was piercing, clarion, mournful, and hopeful, all at once.—
Shaad D’Souza,
Pitchfork,
18 Sep. 2025
-
The backstory for the maze follows the mournful tale of Mary Worth after the tragic death of her family.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
This one is trickier and sadder to think about.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Composite image created by Newsweek shows two older people looking worried and a piggy bank with a sad face on its side.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
And these are -- these are very tragic circumstances that impact all of us.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Sep. 2025
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Before Experience Hendrix After Hendrix’s tragic death, production of the guitarist’s music was in the hands of his allegedly exploitative manager, Michael Jeffery who died in a mysterious 1973 plane crash.—
Mike Alleyne Ph.D,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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
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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
-
Kybella can be used as an alternative to surgery for patients who are unhappy with fat under their chin, also known as submental fullness, and have not seen improvement with diet and exercise, according to the manufacturers.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Folks felt exposed or excluded or some unhappy combination of both.—
Andrew Pasquier,
Them.,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Therefore, there are some unfortunate parallels between young Gen Z needing to sacrifice wages due to wavering job opportunities and millennials graduating into the Great Recession.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
16 Sep. 2025
-
In today's volatile business climate, layoffs have become an unfortunate reality across industries.—
Caroline Castrillon,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Her family is heartbroken and devastated by this tragic loss.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
19 Sep. 2025
-
And utterly heartbroken for Charlie’s young family.—
Amanda Castro
Gabe Whisnant
Anna Commander
Toby Meyjes
Shane Croucher
John Feng
Joshua Rhett Miller,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Meanwhile, Jeremiah is miserable, has nowhere to live, and is trying to find meaning through meaningless flings.—
Olivia Petter,
Vogue,
16 Sep. 2025
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The Arizona Cardinals and head coach Jonathan Gannon made life miserable for Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young and head coach Dave Canales, from start to finish, Sunday at State Farm Stadium.—
DIAMOND VENCES,
Charlotte Observer,
14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Woeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/woeful. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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