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
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of woeful
Agathe Robinson is beset by two classic problems: horrible writer’s block and a woeful inability to find a good man.
—
Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 20 May 2025
Even ignoring the fact a huge proportion of opposition fans see City’s period of domination as as an aberration/abomination/scandal and all their trophies are null and void, City’s record in Europe is actually pretty woeful considering all the cash thrown at it and their domestic trophies.
—Sam Lee, The Athletic, 9 Feb. 2025
Last year’s window averaged 38.8 million viewers on Fox, and that was despite the fact that Dallas’ opponent was a woeful Giants squad.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 16 May 2025
After making the post-season in each of the past two years, the Orioles are a woeful last in the American League East Division at 15-27 and have lost 9 of their last 11 games.
—Chuck Murr, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for woeful
Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 20 May 2025
Even ignoring the fact a huge proportion of opposition fans see City’s period of domination as as an aberration/abomination/scandal and all their trophies are null and void, City’s record in Europe is actually pretty woeful considering all the cash thrown at it and their domestic trophies.
—Sam Lee, The Athletic, 9 Feb. 2025
Last year’s window averaged 38.8 million viewers on Fox, and that was despite the fact that Dallas’ opponent was a woeful Giants squad.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 16 May 2025
After making the post-season in each of the past two years, the Orioles are a woeful last in the American League East Division at 15-27 and have lost 9 of their last 11 games.
—Chuck Murr, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for woeful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for woeful
Adjective
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For that reason, the show would have always been the curator’s natural point of entry even without this year’s mournful context.—
Ben Croll,
Variety,
12 June 2025
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For May 1966’s expansive Pet Sounds, Wilson and lyricist Tony Asher created a song cycle documenting a passage from youthful innocence to mournful adulthood that the composer contrasted with delicately sophisticated yet openhearted orchestrations.—
Barry Walters,
Billboard,
11 June 2025
Adjective
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The building directly across the street stands in sad disrepair, its windows smashed, swathed in graffiti, a front garage door hangs half-open.—
Eric Adler,
Kansas City Star,
19 June 2025
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Two screenshots from the video showing Ollie was a sad facial expression.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 June 2025
Adjective
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The freaky period piece and tragic family drama features Anja Taylor-Joy as a troubled 17th-century teen on the cusp of adulthood who goes down a dark path and Black Phillip as the G.O.A.T. of hellish goats. 23.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
14 June 2025
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This is not just the story of that tragic moment and that heinous crime.—
Samantha Balaban,
NPR,
14 June 2025
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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The root of the fallout was the Who (and specifically Daltrey) being unhappy with Starkey’s performance when the band played a pair of Teenage Cancer Trust charity shows at London’s Royal Albert Hall in March.—
Daniel Kreps,
Rolling Stone,
22 June 2025
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On Friday, Devers alluded to being unhappy with how the Red Sox treated him.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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Shakira does appear to be the beneficiary of an unintended consequence stemming from her unfortunate moves.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
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The stern instructor displays a remarkable amount of patience as the student bashes the unfortunate victim against every solid surface in sight — even alien beings capable of traversing the cosmos can have bad days at the office.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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Days before Father’s Day, the heartbroken dad of Dominic Ferrell, the 17-year-old stabbed to death in a Brickell condo, is speaking out to thank those supporting his family, to condemn the violent killing and to urge parents to hold their children close.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
14 June 2025
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He was booked into Metro Jail the night of June 1. 'Saddened and heartbroken': Attack rocks Boulder days after Israeli staffers slain Questions surround security protocols at the event The Saenger Theatre did not immediately respond to requests for comment on June 2.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
2 June 2025
Adjective
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Championship-only fandom is a largely miserable existence.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
19 June 2025
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Unexpectedly miserable league seasons last time around for Tottenham and Manchester United — the final opponents at the Amex Stadium next May — are another reason why forecasting is hazardous, especially in Brighton’s case.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
18 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Woeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/woeful. Accessed 26 Jun. 2025.
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