1
as in mournful
expressing or suggesting mourning
the woeful expressions of the players after the humiliating loss
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sad
feeling unhappiness
never saw a more woeful-looking bunch than those campers sitting there in the drenching rain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in tragic
of a kind to cause great distress
the restaurant patron made the woeful discovery that he had left his wallet at home
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of woeful
The team that started the season a woeful 6-21 is now 26-28 and sits a percentage point behind the Portland Trail Blazers for ninth place in the Western Conference.
—
Janis Carr, Oc Register, 19 Feb. 2026
The Padres were mostly woeful for a decade before Preller’s arrival and wholly awful the first five seasons under his direction.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
Of all of the woes the Rockies experienced in the 2025 season, their starting pitching was the most woeful.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 7 Feb. 2026
Darnold was the third overall pick in the 2018 draft by the woeful New York Jets.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for woeful
Janis Carr, Oc Register, 19 Feb. 2026
The Padres were mostly woeful for a decade before Preller’s arrival and wholly awful the first five seasons under his direction.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
Of all of the woes the Rockies experienced in the 2025 season, their starting pitching was the most woeful.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 7 Feb. 2026
Darnold was the third overall pick in the 2018 draft by the woeful New York Jets.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for woeful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for woeful
Adjective
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His villains were flamboyant, but Bruce was mournful, reluctant — no onscreen superhero has more palpably wrestled with not wanting to be a superhero.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
7 Mar. 2026
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Such memories flowed freely this week on social media and in mournful first-person essays.—
Dan Adler,
Vanity Fair,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
There will be keggers, hook-ups, late nights and early mornings, all without shading Greg as a sad old man trying to turn back time.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
5 Mar. 2026
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But none of them can say this, none of them can let their feelings be known, and, instead of a triangle, what ends up happening is three sad lines fallen in on each other, lying in a pile, waiting for someone to come along and prop them back up into a shape.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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As a Port Charles police detective, Lucky endured a series of tragic storylines over the years, including his struggles with addiction and the death of his wife.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Mar. 2026
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But nine months of suffering because research for better treatments is lacking is tragic and irresponsible.—
Jason Collins,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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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
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The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.—
Helen Shaw,
Vulture,
8 Dec. 2021
Adjective
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MacFarlane is also said to have faced personal threats from MAGA supporters unhappy with his coverage of the Justice Department.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
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Earlier this season, Marchment struggled mightily — and seemed plenty unhappy — with the Seattle Kraken, but his trade to the Blue Jackets in late December revitalized his season.—
Harman Dayal,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Celta’s experienced striker Borja Iglesias equalized for the home side with his third goal in four games after 25 minutes, and strike partner Iago Aspas was unfortunate to see his shot come back off the post with two minutes remaining as both sides pushed for a winner.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Mar. 2026
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This time round, though, an unfortunate silliness sometimes creeps in, where the film risks tipping over Shakespearean-size emotions into embarrassing bathos.—
Miriam Balanescu,
IndieWire,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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His family and friends are utterly heartbroken.—
Mike Hellgren,
CBS News,
4 Mar. 2026
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Like Sebek, Lincoln-Way co-op senior Zoe Dempsey was heartbroken not to win state in her final attempt.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Alex Caruso relishes making Jokic miserable.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
7 Mar. 2026
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Weegar has had a tough season, with his impact in basically every situation falling off during what’s been a miserable year all around in Calgary.—
Shayna Goldman,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Woeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/woeful. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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