as in boo
used to express sorrow or distress
ah, woe, with the death of the last of my siblings I am alone in this world!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in distress
a state of great suffering of body or mind
a tale of misery and woe
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sorrow
deep sadness especially for the loss of someone or something loved
the incessant woe that has haunted her since the death of her husband
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 woe
Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 May 2025
The loss of Alex Bregman for the foreseeable future to a severe right quad injury only makes the team’s offensive woes more dire.
—Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 27 May 2025
The firm’s woes are at odds with growing demand in the region: BEV registrations rose by more than a quarter in April, while overall car sales were relatively unchanged.
—Niamh Rowe, Quartz, 27 May 2025
Noisette, a fine-dining restaurant in LoHi that specialized in French cuisine, will close next month amid financial woes, its team confirmed Wednesday.
—Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for woe
Noun
Baking soda has long been used as a natural remedy for treating a variety of gardening woes, like pests, weeds, and fungus.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 May 2025
The loss of Alex Bregman for the foreseeable future to a severe right quad injury only makes the team’s offensive woes more dire.
—Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 27 May 2025
The firm’s woes are at odds with growing demand in the region: BEV registrations rose by more than a quarter in April, while overall car sales were relatively unchanged.
—Niamh Rowe, Quartz, 27 May 2025
Noisette, a fine-dining restaurant in LoHi that specialized in French cuisine, will close next month amid financial woes, its team confirmed Wednesday.
—Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for woe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for woe
Interjection
-
Williams also recalled witnessing the Super Bowl crowd boo Taylor Swift when she was shown on the jumbotron cheering on her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
17 Apr. 2025
-
Highlights include a costume parade (for kids and parents), a Purim story and boo Haman and songs.—
Linda McIntosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2024
Noun
-
That places an onerous burden on Henson, doing her considerable best trying to sustain a role whose Job-like travails crank the distress level to 11 too soon.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
6 June 2025
-
The report highlights research on young adults that shows that trans students who participate in collegiate sports are less likely to experience distress, self-harm and suicidal thoughts.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
6 June 2025
Noun
-
Long time residents throughout the Bay Area and beyond will recall the shock and sorrow of Nov. 27, 1978, when White walked into City Hall and shot Milk and Moscone.—
Georgia Rowe,
Mercury News,
28 May 2025
-
In fact, research has found that some animal species may indeed use wit to strengthen their bonds in the same way that many have the capacity for love, fear, sorrow, guilt, anger, shame, disgust and empathy – and that primates smile and some rats can giggle.—
Cecilia Rodriguez,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
Noun
-
Barking in agony, the fox scratches and claws in any attempt to free itself and get to safety.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
28 May 2025
-
Michaela calmly explains that Jocelyn got botched plastic surgery that’s kept her in private agony for the last decade.—
Caroline Framke,
Vulture,
23 May 2025
Noun
-
Among the thousands left in anguish is Sasha Escalante, a 44-year-old Venezuelan radio producer living in Miami.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
5 June 2025
-
Criminalizing them can lead to extended mental anguish.—
Sophie Clark,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 June 2025
Noun
-
In the studio, a bad idea can be put out of its misery within a few minutes.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
30 May 2025
-
The Athletic reflects on their 2024-25 efforts, culminating in a 14th-place finish, that caused more misery than joy.—
Roshane Thomas,
New York Times,
28 May 2025
Noun
-
Our expectations are different, and then the grief can be a lot more, and the anger can be a lot more.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
7 June 2025
-
Plot details are being kept under wraps, but the series is described as an ensemble drama with comedy and heart about sisterhood, nature vs nurture, complicated family dynamics, and grief.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
6 June 2025
Interjection
-
Studies of fathers have generated some alarmist headlines over the years, and Hrdy has kindly collated them: no dad joke: fatherhood shrinks the brain; aw, nuts!—
Dan Piepenbring,
Harper's Magazine,
30 Mar. 2024
-
And then … aw, just cue up the video player for the epic Francisco Lindor homer that won this thing!—
Jayson Stark,
The Athletic,
27 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Woe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/woe. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share