sorrowful

adjective

sor·​row·​ful ˈsär-(ˌ)ō-fəl 

-ə-fəl, 

ˈsȯr-

1

: full of or marked by sorrow

a sorrowful goodbye

2

: expressive of or inducing sorrow

sorrowful eyes

sorrowfully

ˈsär-(ˌ)ō-f(ə-)lē 

-ə-f(ə-)lē, 

ˈsȯr-

adverb

sorrowfulness

ˈsär-(ˌ)ō-fəl-nəs 

-ə-fəl-, 

ˈsȯr-

noun

Synonyms of sorrowful

• mournful
• weeping
• heartbroken
• funeral
• bitter
• grieving
• sad

Examples of sorrowful in a Sentence

adopted a sorrowful tone of voice to read the news story about the former governor's death

the cult seemed to be a sorrowful assemblage of emotionally scarred people seeking love and redemption

Recent Examples on the Web

With its family friction and its outsiders’ view of a fast-growing city in a young, postwar country, Shame and Money casts a piercing, sorrowful gaze at the ground-level effects of globalization. —Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 30 Jan. 2026

Amazon Prime offers a wide selection of sad movies, catering to various tastes, from sorrowful classics like Bicycle Thieves (1948) to heartbreaking modern dramas like Till (2022), each guaranteed to get your tear ducts working overtime. —Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026

After evening fell, a somber, sorrowful crowd in the hundreds kept a vigil by the memorial. —Jack Brook, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026

After evening fell, a somber, sorrowful crowd in the hundreds kept a vigil by the memorial. —Jack Brook, Twin Cities, 25 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

sorrowful

adjective

sor·​row·​ful ˈsär-ō-fəl 

ˈsȯr-, 

-ə-fəl

1

: full of or showing sorrow

a sorrowful good-bye

2

: expressive of or causing sorrow

sorrowful eyes

sorrowfully

-f(ə-)lē 

adverb