sorrow

¹sor·row

noun \ˈsär-(ˌ)ō, ˈsȯr-\

Definition of SORROW

1

a : deep distress, sadness, or regret especially for the loss of someone or something loved

b : resultant unhappy or unpleasant state <to their great sorrow they could not marry>

2

: a cause of grief or sadness

3

: a display of grief or sadness

Examples of SORROW

1. I felt sorrow at the death of my friend.
2. a life filled with joys and sorrows
3. She had a secret sorrow.

Origin of SORROW

Middle English sorow, from Old English sorg; akin to Old High German sorga sorrow

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to SORROW

Synonyms

affliction, anguish, dolefulness, dolor, grief, heartache, heartbreak, sorriness, woe

Antonyms

blessedness, bliss, blissfulness, cheer, cheerfulness, cheeriness, delight, ecstasy, elatedness, elation, euphoria, exhilaration, exuberance, exultation, felicity, gladness, gladsomeness, glee, gleefulness, happiness, joy, joyfulness, joyousness, jubilation, pleasure, rapture, rapturousness

Related Words

agony, distress, pain, suffering, torment; blue devils, blues, dejection, depression, desolateness, desolation, despair, despondence, despondency, disconsolateness, dispiritedness, distress, doldrums, downheartedness, dreariness, dumps, forlornness, gloom, gloominess, glumness, heartsickness, joylessness, melancholy, miserableness, misery, mopes, oppression, sorrowfulness, unhappiness, woefulness, wretchedness; contrition, guilt, regret, remorse, rue, self-reproach, shame; melancholia, self-pity

Near Antonyms

gaiety (also gayety), gayness, humor, jollity, joviality, lightheartedness, merriment, merrymaking, mirth, mirthfulness; hopefulness, optimism, sunniness; enjoyment; content, contentedness, contentment

Synonym Discussion of SORROW

sorrow, grief, anguish, woe, regret mean distress of mind. sorrow implies a sense of loss or a sense of guilt and remorse <a family united in sorrow upon the patriarch's death>. grief implies poignant sorrow for an immediate cause <the inexpressible grief of the bereaved parents>. anguish suggests torturing grief or dread <the anguish felt by the parents of the kidnapped child>. woe is deep or inconsolable grief or misery <cries of woe echoed throughout the bombed city>. regret implies pain caused by deep disappointment, fruitless longing, or unavailing remorse <nagging regret for missed opportunities>.

²sorrow

intransitive verb

Definition of SORROW

: to feel or express sorrow

— sor·row·er \ˈsär-ə-wər, ˈsȯr-\ noun

Examples of SORROW

1. a sorrowing mother, grieving over the death of her son
2. <the soldier's widow continued to sorrow long after her husband's last letter had turned yellow with age>

First Known Use of SORROW

before 12th century

Related to SORROW

Synonyms

agonize, anguish, bleed, hurt, mourn, grieve, suffer

Related Words

ache, long (for), pine (away), sigh, smart; rack, torment, torture; bemoan, bewail, deplore, lament, rue; bawl, blubber, cry, groan, howl, keen, moan, sob, take on, wail, weep, yammer, yowl; languish; regret

Near Antonyms

beam, cheer, crow, delight, exult, glory, joy, laugh, ravish, rejoice, triumph; assure, cheer, comfort, commiserate, console, reassure, solace, soothe, sympathize