sorrow

noun

sor·row | \ ˈsär-(ˌ)ō

, ˈsȯr-\

Definition of sorrow

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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

sorrow

verb

sorrowed; sorrowing; sorrows

Definition of sorrow (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

: to feel or express sorrow

Other Words from sorrow Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Example Sentences Learn More about sorrow

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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 effect is ambivalent: Are the dark streaks meant to be read as tears, the result of the subject’s sorrow? — William Meyers, WSJ, "‘Beyond Truth: Photography After the Shutter’ Review: The Ever-Evolving Image," 23 Feb. 2019 Lawrence Kasdan’s terrific 1983 movie about the quiet sorrows of a group of baby boomers mourning a dead friend was one of the earliest examples of a film scored by pop hits from the ’50s and ’60s. — Todd Vanderwerff, Vox, "7 iconic Aretha Franklin musical moments from movies and TV," 16 Aug. 2018 Getty Images After the news that Modern Family is ending after its 11th season, stars and fans took to social media to express their sorrow and love for the show. — Katherine J. Igoe, Marie Claire, "Could a 'Modern Family' Spinoff Feature Sarah Hyland's Character?," 6 Feb. 2019 Drowning our sorrows With the data, limitations, and caveats, the researchers came to the estimation that 32.5 percent of people worldwide were drinkers in 2016. — Beth Mole, Ars Technica, "There’s no risk-free amount of alcohol, population-level study finds," 27 Aug. 2018 Their voices fill the blank room with colors of jealousy, love, sorrow, anger and bliss. — Madeline Mitchell, Cincinnati.com, "Pink Floyd's 'The Wall' was turned into an opera and it's making its American debut in Cincinnati," 13 July 2018 The sorrow heard through Madonna’s deep vocals is unmistakable. — Billboard Staff, Billboard, "The 50 Greatest Deep Cuts of 1998: Critics' Picks," 31 May 2018 Pope Francis, the United Nations secretary-general, Russian President Vladimir Putin and a number of African leaders have expressed shock and sorrow. — Tom Odula, Fox News, "Survivor found as death toll 167 in Tanzania ferry disaster," 22 Sep. 2018 To the families of the victims, there are no words to express our sorrow for your loss. . . — Travis Andersen, BostonGlobe.com, "Springfield Republican reporter resigns after tweet about Maryland newspaper gunman," 29 June 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.