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sorrow

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noun

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

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
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
Not the murder, not the arrival of the addicted sister, but the removal of the boy that has been at the core of so much sorrow and betrayal between the sisters. Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 20 June 2025 That haunting blend of sorrow and defiance shaped us. Nazanin Boniadi, Time, 17 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for sorrow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sorrow
Verb
  • Dogs, the nation's most-popular pet, were also called challenging to raise and grieve.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 July 2025
  • This has led some to publicly chastise the grieving parents for seeking vengeance over justice, a criticism that Kristi addressed in a Facebook post on Thursday, July 3.
    Chris Spargo, People.com, 4 July 2025
Noun
  • Because grief does not respect titles, postcodes or calendars.
    Belal Aftab, Mercury News, 13 July 2025
  • We're filled with grief and devastation the loss of life.
    Joey Garrison, USA Today, 12 July 2025
Verb
  • The world has mourned the loss of 27 campers and counselors, and 10 girls are still missing, according to the camp.
    Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 7 July 2025
  • The Bruins community is mourning at the passing of one of the great characters in the club’s century-long history, Lyndon Byers, who died on Friday at the age of 61.
    Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 5 July 2025
Noun
  • To date, Operation UNITED has resulted in 33 positive identifications of people whose disappearance had left family members in anguish.
    Michael Kaplan, CBS News, 16 June 2025
  • Even so, the movie’s forceful visual shocks (executed mostly with practical effects) are easier to bear than its restlessly mounting anguish.
    Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times, 29 May 2025
Verb
  • Owners may consider special stairs, a ramp or even a stroller to help their elderly dog move around, while some dogs benefit from special beds and crate pads to help aching muscles and stiff joints.
    Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025
  • Like all great period romances, Maurice places aching desire at the forefront, with the men's palpable yearning made all the more soul-shattering by the fetters of their time.
    Lia Beck, EW.com, 25 June 2025
Noun
  • And the heartbreak was never just about the departures.
    Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 July 2025
  • Peggy’s been through not only the heartbreak of Mr. Fortune but real, real loss.
    Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 7 July 2025
Verb
  • There was our grandmother’s porch at night, on the wood divan, beneath the mosquito net softly sighing, cicadas lighting up the village with their sound.
    Aysegül Savas, Literary Hub, 8 July 2025
  • The door now sighs a soft goodbye,As echoes fade and memories fly.
    Melonee Hurt, The Tennessean, 4 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sorrow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sorrow. Accessed 17 Jul. 2025.

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