Definition of sorrowfulnext
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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 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 The best power-pop thrives on the simmering tension between joyous jangle and sorrowful sentiment, and Presley imbues Orange’s songs with a palpable sense of shame and regret that makes even its most ebullient tracks feel heavy. Stuart Berman, Pitchfork, 29 Apr. 2026 It’s based on an unconventional true story from recent history, set on the British Isles, with a tone that alternates between humorous and sorrowful before delivering an uplifting and humanist message, with skillfully invisible filmmaking that takes a backseat to the performances and story. Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026 Retaliatory homicides of gang adversaries have spasmed for six years in Fort Worth, at times creating a sorrowful rhythm of tit-for-tat killings. Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sorrowful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sorrowful
Adjective
  • The years have only intensified Zimmerman’s mournful, hushed vocal performance, and Dream Me a Dream often plays out like a bedtime story spun by a beloved elder, accompanied by soft strings, shakers, and even a synth or two.
    Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 19 June 2026
  • The drama can stir up nostalgia and mournful emotions, and feels personal to many.
    Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 3 June 2026
Adjective
  • Then Greene takes a long, sad subway ride home, and America learns that one of their favorite TV doctors isn't flawless.
    EW Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 25 June 2026
  • Local foodies were sad to hear owner Sylvia Chung (Momma Chung) retired and closed the south Fort Worth restaurant in October of last year.
    Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 June 2026
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
Adjective
  • Isdin Melatonik If traditional retinoids have left your sensitive skin unhappy, Isdin's Melatonik Recovery Night Serum offers a gentler approach with bakuchiol.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 23 June 2026
  • Brown and the Celtics have both since denied speculation that the 29-year-old second-team All-NBA selection was unhappy with his role in Boston.
    Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 22 June 2026
Adjective
  • The courtroom was packed with heartbroken supporters wanting justice for Jor'Dynn as each woman stood silent in front of the judge.
    Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 23 June 2026
  • There is nothing more evocative of a pure Love Island experience than a heartbroken rage split in costume.
    Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 22 June 2026
Adjective
  • New-home construction tumbled, then stayed depressed for over a decade.
    Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 24 June 2026
  • These figures mark a clear increase from depressed crossing rates seen during much of the Iran war since its start in late February.
    Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 23 June 2026
Adjective
  • Relatives of a woman discovered dead by her son with her neck slashed in the lobby of her Brooklyn apartment building are appealing to the public for help with funeral expenses.
    Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 22 June 2026
  • The fundraiser ultimately raised more than $88,000 AUD (about $62,000 USD) to cover funeral expenses, household bills and Axel's future needs.
    Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 18 June 2026
Adjective
  • And Wilde’s couple is miserable in a way only Americans can be.
    Eliana Dockterman, Time, 26 June 2026
  • Björck alone should make the Jets’ 2026 draft a win and help Jets fans move past the miserable season that led to the pick.
    Corey Pronman, New York Times, 26 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sorrowful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sorrowful. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.

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