as in pains
a state of great suffering of body or mind
a tale of misery and woe
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Recent Examples of woes
After all, anything that promised to ease my laundry day woes had to be worth a shot, right?
—
Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 22 Jan. 2026
Republicans say the governor is kicking the state's spending woes down the road.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
The first season had toe and shoulder woes bookend the year.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
The Braves’ injury woes resurfaced a few months before opening day, even a few weeks before reporting for spring training.
—Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 19 Jan. 2026
Research by scientists at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville also found that xAI’s turbine use added to air pollution woes around Memphis.
—Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 17 Jan. 2026
One game is too soon to say whether Carrick has alleviated United’s biggest woes.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2026
Like this bedding, a quality set of sheets is an easy solve for the most basic of sleep woes.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 16 Jan. 2026
The Texas native remained in Westwood during the summer, working through routines and skills so that her yips-like woes in January 2025 wouldn’t re-emerge in 2026.
—Benjamin Royer, Daily News, 16 Jan. 2026
Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 22 Jan. 2026
Republicans say the governor is kicking the state's spending woes down the road.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
The first season had toe and shoulder woes bookend the year.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
The Braves’ injury woes resurfaced a few months before opening day, even a few weeks before reporting for spring training.
—Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 19 Jan. 2026
Research by scientists at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville also found that xAI’s turbine use added to air pollution woes around Memphis.
—Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 17 Jan. 2026
One game is too soon to say whether Carrick has alleviated United’s biggest woes.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2026
Like this bedding, a quality set of sheets is an easy solve for the most basic of sleep woes.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 16 Jan. 2026
The Texas native remained in Westwood during the summer, working through routines and skills so that her yips-like woes in January 2025 wouldn’t re-emerge in 2026.
—Benjamin Royer, Daily News, 16 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for woes
Noun
-
In fact, Williams took great pains to establish that his primary objective is building the Terps (7-7, 0-3 Big Ten), not tearing down a 21-year-old prospect, the Bears or the sport’s governing body.—
Edward Lee,
Baltimore Sun,
3 Jan. 2026
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Those in their fifties and beyond require the same amount of sleep as younger adults—and may actually benefit from sleeping more to offset nightly wake-ups from aches and pains, medication side effects, or dealing with the need to urinate more frequently in the middle of the night.—
Emma Loewe,
Outside,
1 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Her film is an honorable attempt to dramatize the everyday agonies and frustrations of Red Crescent workers, to honor their quick thinking and astonishing courage under duress.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The victims of prejudice and inequality are always the best guardians of the ramparts that sustain those miseries.—
Cressida Leyshon,
New Yorker,
23 Nov. 2025
-
Falling support in Gaza Palestinian public pressure on Hamas has risen as the miseries of war have mounted.—
Mkhaimar Abusada,
The Conversation,
5 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Woes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/woes. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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