Synonyms of woefully

woefully

adverb

as in sadly

with feelings of bitterness or grief

woefully recounted the many injustices that the family had endured at the hands of the dictator

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sadly
• bitterly
• sorrowfully
• painfully
• hard
• mournfully
• grievously
• sorely
• wretchedly
• unhappily
• regretfully
• sharply
• harshly
• agonizingly
• severely
• dolefully
• ruefully
• lugubriously
• resentfully
• dolorously
• plaintively
• inconsolably
• wailfully
• hardly
• abjectly
• dismally
• miserably
• distressingly
• despairingly
• dejectedly
• drearily
• forlornly
• dispiritedly
• cheerlessly
• acutely
• despondently
• disconsolately
• distressfully
• darkly
• joylessly
• morosely
• sullenly
• glumly
• pessimistically
• cruelly
• somberly
• poignantly
• blackly
• dourly
• gloomily
• keenly
• downheartedly
• mirthlessly
• ill
• piercingly
• hurtfully
• crestfallenly
• low-spiritedly
• rancorously

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• blissfully
• happily
• joyously
• joyfully
• gladly
• cheerfully
• gleefully
• merrily
• easily
• delightedly
• cheerily
• gaily
• lightly
• casually
• lightheartedly
• blithely
• indifferently
• calmly
• stoically
• well
• nonchalantly
• unconcernedly
• impassively
• dispassionately
• favorably
• sunnily
• mirthfully
• good-naturedly
• rejoicingly
• blithesomely

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of woefully

This assessment process, which Amtrak and the FRA only agreed to under intense pressure, is woefully insufficient. — Asal Rezaei, CBS News, 7 Nov. 2026

Most of why Illinois’ tax burden is so onerous is due to woefully underfunded pensions and the need to pump more cash into those retirement plans each year to ensure the state and localities meet their obligations to retirees. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 7 Nov. 2026

The report paints a picture of the federal system for protecting farm animals in transit as woefully inadequate and largely toothless, dating back to the era when livestock traveled primarily by rail. — Marina Bolotnikova, Vox, 24 Oct. 2026

Since the Eaton and Palisades fires, there has been report after report documenting how woefully unprepared city, county and fire officials were. — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026

Jayden Maiava had a terrible interception on a second quarter drive, then woefully underthrew a wide open receiver in the fourth quarter with a chance to salt away the game. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 4 Oct. 2026

The Oceanside story line, in particular, was woefully underserved. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Oct. 2026

However, hiring of CDC scientific staff and budget support for high-consequence pathogen programs are woefully slow and insufficient. — Daniel Jernigan, STAT, 26 Sep. 2026

The most effective adaptation, by his reckoning, is ensuring that workers earn enough to protect themselves beyond the factory gates—a need highlighted by continuing protests over what many say is a woefully inadequate minimum wage. — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026