SORROW Synonyms: 147 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'sorrow' different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of sorrow are anguish , grief , regret , and woe . While all these words 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

Q: When might 'anguish' be a better fit than 'sorrow'?

While in some cases nearly identical to sorrow , anguish suggests torturing grief or dread. // the anguish felt by the parents of the kidnapped child

Q: When is it sensible to use 'grief' instead of 'sorrow'?

The synonyms grief and sorrow are sometimes interchangeable, but grief implies poignant sorrow for an immediate cause. // the inexpressible grief of the bereaved parents

Q: When would 'regret' be a good substitute for 'sorrow'?

In some situations, the words regret and sorrow are roughly equivalent. However, regret implies pain caused by deep disappointment, fruitless longing, or unavailing remorse. // nagging regret for missed opportunities

Q: When can 'woe' be used instead of 'sorrow'?

The words woe and sorrow can be used in similar contexts, but woe is deep or inconsolable grief or misery. // cries of woe echoed throughout the bombed city

Q: How is the word 'sorrow' different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of sorrow are anguish , grief , regret , and woe . While all these words 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

Q: When might 'anguish' be a better fit than 'sorrow'?

While in some cases nearly identical to sorrow , anguish suggests torturing grief or dread. // the anguish felt by the parents of the kidnapped child

Q: When is it sensible to use 'grief' instead of 'sorrow'?

The synonyms grief and sorrow are sometimes interchangeable, but grief implies poignant sorrow for an immediate cause. // the inexpressible grief of the bereaved parents

Q: When would 'regret' be a good substitute for 'sorrow'?

In some situations, the words regret and sorrow are roughly equivalent. However, regret implies pain caused by deep disappointment, fruitless longing, or unavailing remorse. // nagging regret for missed opportunities

Q: When can 'woe' be used instead of 'sorrow'?

The words woe and sorrow can be used in similar contexts, but woe is deep or inconsolable grief or misery. // cries of woe echoed throughout the bombed city

sorrow 1 of 2

verb

Definition of sorrow next

as in to grieve

to feel deep sadness or mental pain the soldier's widow continued to sorrow long after her husband's last letter had turned yellow with age

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

sorrow

2 of 2

noun

ˈsär-(ˌ)ō

as in grief

deep sadness especially for the loss of someone or something loved he felt great sorrow at the loss of his beloved dog

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word sorrow different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of sorrow are anguish, grief, regret, and woe. While all these words 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

When might anguish be a better fit than sorrow?

While in some cases nearly identical to sorrow, anguish suggests torturing grief or dread.

the anguish felt by the parents of the kidnapped child

When is it sensible to use grief instead of sorrow?

The synonyms grief and sorrow are sometimes interchangeable, but grief implies poignant sorrow for an immediate cause.

the inexpressible grief of the bereaved parents

When would regret be a good substitute for sorrow?

In some situations, the words regret and sorrow are roughly equivalent. However, regret implies pain caused by deep disappointment, fruitless longing, or unavailing remorse.

nagging regret for missed opportunities

When can woe be used instead of sorrow?

The words woe and sorrow can be used in similar contexts, but woe is deep or inconsolable grief or misery.

cries of woe echoed throughout the bombed city

How is the word sorrow different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of sorrow are anguish, grief, regret, and woe. While all these words 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

When might anguish be a better fit than sorrow?

While in some cases nearly identical to sorrow, anguish suggests torturing grief or dread.

the anguish felt by the parents of the kidnapped child

When is it sensible to use grief instead of sorrow?

The synonyms grief and sorrow are sometimes interchangeable, but grief implies poignant sorrow for an immediate cause.

the inexpressible grief of the bereaved parents

When would regret be a good substitute for sorrow?

In some situations, the words regret and sorrow are roughly equivalent. However, regret implies pain caused by deep disappointment, fruitless longing, or unavailing remorse.

nagging regret for missed opportunities

When can woe be used instead of sorrow?

The words woe and sorrow can be used in similar contexts, but woe is deep or inconsolable grief or misery.

cries of woe echoed throughout the bombed city

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of sorrow

Verb

The ghosts of their late partners are equally grief-stricken, but instead of succumbing to sorrow, the spirits decide to matchmake their survivors. —

People Staff, Peoplemag, 3 Feb. 2023 Oh dearest comforter of the troubled, alleviate our worry and sorrow with your gentle love, and grant us the grace and strength to accept this burden. —

Elizabeth Berry, Woman's Day, 30 Jan. 2023

Noun

That these images aren’t used to elicit sorrow or righteous anger isn’t a problem in and of itself; rather, the issue is that they aren’t substituted with worthwhile alternatives that stir one’s soul, or one’s moral compass. —

Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026 Tilahun Kebede, president of the South Ethiopia Regional State, expressed his sorrow over the disaster and urged residents to move to higher ground as rains continue. —

Arkansas Online, 13 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sorrow

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sorrow

Verb

But for every moment of genuine accountability journalism that reminds the public what the press is capable of, there seems to follow another viral post, another sympathetic profile of a terrorist’s grieving relatives, another story that mistakes activism for reporting.

— Julian Baron, Baltimore Sun, 18 Mar. 2026
The film captures Isaac navigating the demands of the role while also expecting his first child with Lind and grieving the recent loss of his mother.

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 18 Mar. 2026

Definition of grieve

Browse Nearby Words

sorriness

sorrow

sorrowed

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Sorrow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sorrow. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.

Copy Citation

Last Updated: 22 Mar 2026 - Updated example sentences

Synonyms of sorrow

verb

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on sorrow

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

frenetic

Popular in Grammar & Usage

5 Verbal Slip Ups and Language Mistakes

What does 'etcetera' mean?

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Opposite of Déjà Vu

Why do we call it a 'flea market'?

17 Words for Dog Breeds

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

Popular

5 Verbal Slip Ups and Language Mistakes

The Opposite of Déjà Vu

Why do we call it a 'flea market'?

Games & Quizzes