Definition of SORROW

Choose the Right Synonym for sorrow

Noun

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

Noun

sorrow, grief, and woe mean a feeling of great sadness. sorrow is used for a feeling that something has been lost and often feelings of guilt and regret. He expressed sorrow for having caused the accident. grief is used for a feeling of great sorrow usually for a particular reason. She felt grief over the death of her pet. woe is used for a feeling of hopelessness and misery. All my troubles left me in a state of woe.

Examples of sorrow in a Sentence

Noun

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

Verb

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

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The swift turnaround was prompted by the horror of the shooting — but also by busloads of Stoneman Douglas students, who met with lawmakers and held Capitol rallies resonating with sorrow, anguish and angry cries to ban assault weapons sales. — Gray Rohrer, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Parkland horror upended session agendas," 10 Mar. 2018 Russia is reportedly running low on beer, as World Cup fans are drowning their sorrows and reveling in celebration with the foamy cold brews faster than the host country can replenish the supply. — Benjamin Brown, Fox News, "World Cup fans reportedly causing beer shortage in Russia," 20 June 2018 Lombard and Monaghan, sometimes with hilarity, sometimes with sorrow, play everyone: the director, the star, the crew, the crowd, the priest, old guy Mickey Riordan (one of the last surviving extras from The Quiet Man!), the drug addict, everyone. — John Timpane, Philly.com, "McCarter's 'Stones in His Pockets': Ireland, fantasy and reality," 22 Jan. 2018 The occasion of Chris Carter’s 23rd birthday in 2015 brought together his parents, friends, and fellow soldiers in sorrow rather than celebration. — Martin Kuz, The Christian Science Monitor, "A plan to help veterans from 'the first minute' they leave the service," 27 June 2018 It is buried in the sea; And only the sorrow of others Throws its shadow over me. — BostonGlobe.com, "Read the poem that inspired the Longfellow Bridge’s name," 31 May 2018 Even more striking is how McCain expresses his sorrow in the documentary. — Jonathan Martin, Anchorage Daily News, "At home in Arizona, McCain shares memories and regrets with friends," 7 May 2018 What links them is this overarching sorrow and unrest. — Jesse Hamlin, San Francisco Chronicle, "SF Symphony brings ‘Boris Godunov’ to concert stage," 12 June 2018 He was cursed, and this curse had brought sorrow on all those people who loved him, and maybe there was a chance for a miracle—and a way for the curse to be lifted. — Joanna Robinson, HWD, "Inside the Tragedy and Triumph of Disney Genius Howard Ashman," 20 Apr. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Chili’s Wash away all your tax day sorrows with a $5 Cuervo Blue Margarita, made with silver tequila, blue Curacao and pineapple juice. — Madison Roberts, PEOPLE.com, "All the Restaurants Where You Can Get Free Food on Tax Day," 9 Apr. 2018 In some places, lynchings were accompanied by mob destruction of black business districts, adding economic devastation to sorrow. — Vanessa Gregory, New York Times, "A Lynching’s Long Shadow," 25 Apr. 2018 Ashton Kutcher isn’t the type to drown his breakup sorrows with a carton of ice cream and a box of tissues. — Mike Miller, PEOPLE.com, "Ashton Kutcher Fasted for a Week in the Woods After Demi Moore Divorce: 'I Started to Hallucinate'," 20 Feb. 2018 A skull, a crucifix and the suggestion of a sorrowing Rubenesque nude press in on a naked man (possibly the artist) who may be leaving them behind. — Roberta Smith, New York Times, "Painting From the 1980s, When Brash Met Flash," 9 Feb. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sorrow.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.