sorrowful

adjective

ˈsär-(ˌ)ō-fəl How to pronounce sorrowful (audio)
Definition of sorrowfulnext
1
as in mournful
expressing or suggesting mourning adopted a sorrowful tone of voice to read the news story about the former governor's death

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sad
feeling unhappiness the cult seemed to be a sorrowful assemblage of emotionally scarred people seeking love and redemption

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 sorrowful Along with intermittent rain, gray skies have accompanied the sorrowful mood that has permeated throughout the garage this weekend in Concord. — Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 23 May 2026 Although Ashura is the day when the mourning reaches its culmination, Muharram has come to mean the collection of observances during this sacred and sorrowful time at the start of the year. — Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 May 2026 But ultimately, what should fans take from the moving yet sorrowful final chapter, which is punctuated with a glimmer of hope and possibly the breath of life for its central characters? — Hunter Ingram, Variety, 15 May 2026 This sorrowful handwaving is taken as a sufficient explanation. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 8 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for sorrowful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sorrowful
  1. mournful
  2. sad
  3. weeping
  4. unhappy
  5. heartbroken
  6. depressed
  7. funeral
  8. miserable
Adjective
  • Since his siblings were crying with the same mournful expression, clinging to their father’s corpse, Shoichiro willed himself to cry too, and the tears came immediately.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
  • But there’s something mournful, something searching about his statement, too.
    — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 24 July 2026
Definition of mournful
Adjective
  • Said sad attraction is not exactly comparable to Buckingham Fountain.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Their deaths were a sad reminder of the danger that pneumococcal pneumonia poses to older adults.
    — Mark Marino, PEOPLE, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of sad
Adjective
  • And every day, across from them, outside the clinic, about to enter or just leaving, there were women hugging each other and weeping.
    — David Mamet, National Review, 11 Aug. 2022
  • The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.
    — Helen Shaw, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2021
Definition of weeping
Adjective
  • So this became, like, a collective therapy session for everyone unhappy with the government.
    — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Their heated exchange on the field lasted more than two minutes, with Jones unhappy that Szoboszlai had given the captain’s armband to Tsimikas rather than him when the Hungary midfielder was substituted 13 minutes from time.
    — James Pearce, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of unhappy
Adjective
  • Neighbors of the family told WABC they are heartbroken over the tragedy.
    — Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Followers were heartbroken that their idol had, potentially, signed away his creation.
    — Kyle MacNeill, Rolling Stone, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of heartbroken
Adjective
  • By mid-December, Clancy was feeling very depressed, Tufts said.
    — Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
  • While there is plenty of food, everyone looks pretty depressed.
    — William Earl, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of depressed
Adjective
  • At his San Francisco tour opener and other stops, Burke went all in on a funeral theme.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Rather than a celebration, the film plays more like a funeral procession, or perhaps a bedside vigil for a man who has, indeed, seemingly sacrificed his life in pursuit of his art.
    — Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of funeral
Adjective
  • Rebounding from a miserable 2025 Hiring had rebounded this year from a lackluster 2025 in the face of the conflict in the Persian Gulf that has sent energy prices surging and put a strain on family budgets.
    — Josh Boak, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Some are hopeful that the implementation of the plan would alleviate their daily miserable existence and improve conditions.
    — Mkhaimar Abusada, The Conversation, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of miserable

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sorrowful
sorrowfully
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Cite this Entry

“Sorrowful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sorrowful. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of sorrowful for Spanish Speakers

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