Synonyms of woeful

woeful

adjective

ˈwō-fəl 

1

as in mournful

expressing or suggesting mourning

the woeful expressions of the players after the humiliating loss

Synonyms & Similar Words

• mournful
• weeping
• heartbroken
• funeral
• bitter
• lamentable
• grieving
• wailing
• sad
• unhappy
• anguished
• sorry
• sorrowful
• melancholy
• doleful
• aching
• lugubrious
• dolorous
• regretful
• plaintive
• tearful
• agonized
• rueful
• depressed
• somber
• bleak
• plangent
• crying
• bemoaning
• pathetic
• dark
• bewailing
• funereal
• deploring
• morbid
• miserable
• dolesome
• woebegone
• dispirited
• dejected
• disconsolate
• elegiac
• gloomy
• dismal
• downcast
• darkening
• keening
• forlorn
• inconsolable
• heartsick
• despondent
• desolate
• crestfallen
• glum
• moody
• wretched
• groaning
• careworn
• bleeding
• brokenhearted
• suffering
• howling
• piteous
• cheerless
• moaning
• low
• black
• dreary
• joyless
• gray
• downhearted
• sullen
• dirgelike
• pessimistic
• morose
• low-spirited
• heartsore
• comfortless
• saturnine
• bawling
• triste
• yammering

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• triumphant
• happy
• joyful
• cheerful
• delighted
• bright
• cheery
• smiling
• laughing
• joyous
• rejoicing
• blissful
• merry
• jolly
• buoyant
• optimistic
• blithe
• exulting
• mirthful
• glorying
• hopeful
• encouraging
• lighthearted
• cheering
• rapturous
• ecstatic
• giddy
• heady
• jocund
• euphoric
• rhapsodic
• blithesome
• elated
• exhilarated

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

• sad
• unhappy
• miserable
• depressed
• heartbroken
• bad
• sorry
• melancholy
• upset
• worried
• disappointed
• sorrowful
• hopeless
• mournful
• woebegone
• troubled
• wretched
• doleful
• uneasy
• gloomy
• joyless
• forlorn
• dejected
• disconsolate
• crestfallen
• downcast
• glum
• inconsolable
• hangdog
• melancholic
• heartsick
• despondent
• depressing
• blue
• brokenhearted
• saddened
• droopy
• down
• distressed
• low
• suicidal
• downhearted
• low-spirited
• down in the mouth
• discouraged
• heavyhearted
• despairing
• heartsore
• cast down
• sunk
• aggrieved
• tearful
• dispirited
• bleak
• grieving
• dismal
• unquiet
• lugubrious
• weeping
• dolorous
• somber
• plaintive
• anguished
• regretful
• desolate
• disheartened
• lachrymose
• morbid
• cheerless
• rueful
• wailing
• dreary
• sullen
• agonized
• dark
• morose
• gray
• drear
• elegiac
• comfortless
• darkening
• murky
• funereal
• saturnine
• black

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• joyous
• cheerful
• blissful
• happy
• joyful
• gleeful
• cheery
• buoyed
• jubilant
• buoyant
• glad
• exuberant
• rapturous
• upbeat
• sunny
• ecstatic
• delighted
• merry
• exultant
• jolly
• euphoric
• enraptured
• rhapsodic
• jovial
• blithe
• optimistic
• mirthful
• jocular
• rosy
• chipper
• hopeful
• excited
• jocose
• vital
• spirited
• sanguine
• overjoyed
• gladsome
• gladdened
• elated
• exhilarated
• jocund
• energetic
• lively
• blithesome
• content
• perky
• sprightly
• vivacious
• frisky
• animated
• satisfied
• bouncing
• jaunty
• careless
• smiling
• entranced
• laughing
• encouraged
• lightsome
• peppy
• pleased
• unconcerned
• springy
• thrilled
• zippy
• gratified
• carefree
• cavalier
• lighthearted
• boon
• insouciant
• grinning
• easygoing
• heartened
• sprightful
• beaming
• happy-go-lucky
• devil-may-care

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tragic
• unfortunate
• terrible
• lamentable
• horrible
• deplorable
• regrettable
• shocking
• grievous
• unlucky
• distressing
• awful
• dire
• disturbing
• painful
• pitiful
• sad
• dreadful
• disastrous
• distressful
• miserable
• sickening
• unsettling
• heartbreaking
• troublesome
• wretched
• severe
• fearful
• unbearable
• heartrending
• doleful
• piteous
• alarming
• crushing
• vexatious
• poignant
• overwhelming
• traumatic
• moving
• horrifying
• intolerable
• affecting
• touching
• calamitous
• excruciating
• harrowing
• perturbing
• ruthful
• sharp
• raging

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• satisfying
• pleasing
• rewarding
• gratifying
• encouraging
• comforting
• heartening
• inspiring
• happy
• fortunate
• lucky
• heartwarming
• cheering

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of woeful

This is troubling because the aura and confident air of the AI can lead them down woeful paths. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 2 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

On top of the woeful error at first base, Alonso went 0-for-4 at the plate. — Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 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