Synonyms of sorrow

sorrow 1 of 2

verb

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

• grieve
• mourn
• ache
• anguish
• sigh
• suffer
• cry
• agonize
• sob
• weep
• hurt
• bleed
• torment
• long (for)
• tear one's hair
• groan
• eat one's heart out
• pine (away)
• bewail
• lament
• regret
• moan
• torture
• rue
• blubber
• bemoan
• smart
• howl
• wail
• languish
• bawl
• deplore
• rack
• keen
• yowl
• take on
• yammer

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

• grief
• anguish
• heartbreak
• agony
• heartache
• pain
• guilt
• woe
• sorrowfulness
• remorse
• melancholy
• suffering
• despair
• distress
• misery
• dolor
• shame
• regret
• depression
• sorriness
• torment
• affliction
• unhappiness
• dejection
• oppression
• gloom
• wretchedness
• dolefulness
• blues
• gloominess
• contrition
• despondency
• dreariness
• heartsickness
• melancholia
• desolation
• joylessness
• dumps
• despondence
• forlornness
• glumness
• miserableness
• rue
• self-reproach
• downheartedness
• desolateness
• self-pity
• doldrums
• blue devils
• disconsolateness
• woefulness
• mopes
• dispiritedness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• joy
• happiness
• exultation
• ecstasy
• pleasure
• elation
• glee
• gladness
• delight
• cheerfulness
• jubilation
• bliss
• euphoria
• exuberance
• rapture
• exhilaration
• joyousness
• mirth
• joyfulness
• blessedness
• felicity
• cheer
• gayety
• merriment
• cheeriness
• gaiety
• humor
• jollity
• optimism
• joviality
• merrymaking
• lightheartedness
• blissfulness
• hopefulness
• gayness
• gleefulness
• enjoyment
• elatedness
• mirthfulness
• gladsomeness
• rapturousness
• contentment
• content
• sunniness
• contentedness

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of sorrow

Verb

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

As the story of SoulShine's contribution made its way onto the news and social media, people expressed appreciation for Garem and the company's creative contributions –and sorrow that the task was required. —Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 1 June 2022

Noun

Its purpose is not to wallow in historical sorrow, but to illuminate how a people’s spirit was forged in the fire of injustice. —Brad Braxton, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2025

There’s no sorrow that God can’t spring joy from. —Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2025