woeful

adjective

ˈwō-fəl How to pronounce woeful (audio)
Definition of woefulnext
1
as in mournful
expressing or suggesting mourning the woeful expressions of the players after the humiliating loss

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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

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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

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 woeful Mike Trout presumably has witnessed every possible blooper, blunder and boo-boo in 16 seasons with the woeful Angels. — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026 New York would go on to lose the next two at the Summit, in no small part thanks to John Stark’s woeful 2-of-18 shooting from the field in the deciding frame. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 29 May 2026 The Dodgers romped through a weekend at Angel Stadium, scoring 31 runs in what amounted to live batting practice against the Angels’ woeful pitching staff. — Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 19 May 2026 The 24-year-old Italian was mixing woeful drop shots with regulation misses (Sinner made 54 unforced errors in the first three sets) against Kecmanović, who was serving brilliantly and skidding the ball through the court. — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for woeful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for woeful
  1. mournful
  2. sad
  3. tragic
  4. weeping
  5. unhappy
  6. unfortunate
  7. heartbroken
  8. miserable
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
Definition of mournful
Adjective
  • Now, Star is reporting that Blake Lively is trying not to be bitter about not being invited, but the snub has left her very sad.
    — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 8 July 2026
  • No living sister or Mother to administer relief in that hour the most sad in the history of humanity.
    — Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026
Definition of sad
Adjective
  • Anything tragic that happened to minorities was inevitable and necessary.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
  • Titled ‘Forever 20′, it has been placed on 97 Avenue, close to the stadium’s Main Stand, on the eve of the first anniversary of their tragic passing in a car crash in Spain last July.
    — James Pearce, New York Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of tragic
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
  • Last year, researchers at Harvard University and Baylor University discovered that, on average, young adults aged between 18 to 29 are deeply unhappy.
    — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 9 July 2026
  • Licensed cannabis operators in states that have legalized marijuana tend to support the ban—they’re unhappy that hemp intoxicants face far less regulation and taxation than their products.
    — Peter Su, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of unhappy
Adjective
  • For many women, painful periods are treated as an unfortunate but normal part of life.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 7 July 2026
  • Instead, the meddling radiated corruption over due process of an unfortunate but longstanding rule that has remedies seldom invoked in the middle of the World Cup.
    — Vahe Gregorian July 7, Kansas City Star, 7 July 2026
Definition of unfortunate
Adjective
  • Was, still heartbroken about the loss of his friend and bandmate, recalled their first time on tour.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • Prince Harry was heartbroken after arriving at Eton College in 1998.
    — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 30 June 2026
Definition of heartbroken
Adjective
  • Remarkably, La Roja have failed to win a knockout round match in their last three World Cups, but expect Lamine Yamal and company to end that miserable run today.
    — David Hickey, NBC news, 2 July 2026
  • But the American job market has chugged along, continuing to rebound from a miserable 2025.
    — Paul Wiseman, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of miserable

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woebegone
woeful
woefully
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Cite this Entry

“Woeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/woeful. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of woeful for Spanish Speakers

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