WOE Synonyms: 176 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'woe' different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of woe are anguish , grief , regret , and sorrow . While all these words mean "distress of mind," woe is deep or inconsolable grief or misery. // cries of woe echoed throughout the bombed city

Q: When is it sensible to use 'anguish' instead of 'woe'?

The meanings of anguish and woe largely overlap; however, anguish suggests torturing grief or dread. // the anguish felt by the parents of the kidnapped child

Q: When is 'grief' a more appropriate choice than 'woe'?

The words grief and woe can be used in similar contexts, but grief implies poignant sorrow for an immediate cause. // the inexpressible grief of the bereaved parents

Q: Where would 'regret' be a reasonable alternative to 'woe'?

While the synonyms regret and woe are close in meaning, regret implies pain caused by deep disappointment, fruitless longing, or unavailing remorse. // nagging regret for missed opportunities

Q: When can 'sorrow' be used instead of 'woe'?

While in some cases nearly identical to woe , sorrow implies a sense of loss or a sense of guilt and remorse. // a family united in sorrow upon the patriarch's death

Q: How is the word 'woe' different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of woe are anguish , grief , regret , and sorrow . While all these words mean "distress of mind," woe is deep or inconsolable grief or misery. // cries of woe echoed throughout the bombed city

Q: When is it sensible to use 'anguish' instead of 'woe'?

The meanings of anguish and woe largely overlap; however, anguish suggests torturing grief or dread. // the anguish felt by the parents of the kidnapped child

Q: When is 'grief' a more appropriate choice than 'woe'?

The words grief and woe can be used in similar contexts, but grief implies poignant sorrow for an immediate cause. // the inexpressible grief of the bereaved parents

Q: Where would 'regret' be a reasonable alternative to 'woe'?

While the synonyms regret and woe are close in meaning, regret implies pain caused by deep disappointment, fruitless longing, or unavailing remorse. // nagging regret for missed opportunities

Q: When can 'sorrow' be used instead of 'woe'?

While in some cases nearly identical to woe , sorrow implies a sense of loss or a sense of guilt and remorse. // a family united in sorrow upon the patriarch's death

woe 1 of 2

interjection

ˈwō

Definition of woe next

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!

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

woe

2 of 2

noun

as in distress

a state of great suffering of body or mind a tale of misery and woe

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word woe different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of woe are anguish, grief, regret, and sorrow. While all these words mean "distress of mind," woe is deep or inconsolable grief or misery.

cries of woe echoed throughout the bombed city

When is it sensible to use anguish instead of woe?

The meanings of anguish and woe largely overlap; however, anguish suggests torturing grief or dread.

the anguish felt by the parents of the kidnapped child

When is grief a more appropriate choice than woe?

The words grief and woe can be used in similar contexts, but grief implies poignant sorrow for an immediate cause.

the inexpressible grief of the bereaved parents

Where would regret be a reasonable alternative to woe?

While the synonyms regret and woe are close in meaning, regret implies pain caused by deep disappointment, fruitless longing, or unavailing remorse.

nagging regret for missed opportunities

When can sorrow be used instead of woe?

While in some cases nearly identical to woe, sorrow implies a sense of loss or a sense of guilt and remorse.

a family united in sorrow upon the patriarch's death

How is the word woe different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of woe are anguish, grief, regret, and sorrow. While all these words mean "distress of mind," woe is deep or inconsolable grief or misery.

cries of woe echoed throughout the bombed city

When is it sensible to use anguish instead of woe?

The meanings of anguish and woe largely overlap; however, anguish suggests torturing grief or dread.

the anguish felt by the parents of the kidnapped child

When is grief a more appropriate choice than woe?

The words grief and woe can be used in similar contexts, but grief implies poignant sorrow for an immediate cause.

the inexpressible grief of the bereaved parents

Where would regret be a reasonable alternative to woe?

While the synonyms regret and woe are close in meaning, regret implies pain caused by deep disappointment, fruitless longing, or unavailing remorse.

nagging regret for missed opportunities

When can sorrow be used instead of woe?

While in some cases nearly identical to woe, sorrow implies a sense of loss or a sense of guilt and remorse.

a family united in sorrow upon the patriarch's death

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

Noun

Dark circles are high on the list of Richie’s skin woes. —

Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 5 Mar. 2026 Records show Sandgaard and the company as a whole suffered from serious financial woes. —

Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 5 Mar. 2026 Massachusetts continues to grapple with early literacy woes and school budget cuts but its students once again have topped the nation on Advanced Placement exams. —

State House News Service, Boston Herald, 4 Mar. 2026 The primary problem with Dallas’ recent offensive woes lies in being down several rotation players. —

Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 4 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for woe

Recent Examples of Synonyms for woe

Noun

The immediate physical toll of these attacks — manifesting as respiratory distress and chemical burns to the eyes and throat — may only be the precursor to a more permanent health crisis.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 11 Mar. 2026
After one KatyCat expressed feelings of distress on social media, the pop star showed up in their comments to send some love.

— Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 11 Mar. 2026

Definition of distress

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wobbly

woe

woebegone

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“Woe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/woe. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.

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Last Updated: 13 Mar 2026 - Updated example sentences

Synonyms of woe

interjection

noun

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