as in boo
used to express sorrow or distress
ah, woe, with the death of the last of my siblings I am alone in this world!
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in distress
a state of great suffering of body or mind
a tale of misery and woe
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sorrow
deep sadness especially for the loss of someone or something loved
the incessant woe that has haunted her since the death of her husband
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of woe
Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2025
Blame It on Rio tells the tale of two middle-aged men who head to Rio de Janeiro to chase young girls amid marital woes.
—Eddie Mouradian, Vulture, 24 Feb. 2025
These woes will only deepen if the U.S. President follows through on his tariff threats.
—Ido Vock, TIME, 22 Feb. 2025
But this may not signal the end of luxury woes as a mixed picture emerged from the breakdown by materials.
—Lily Templeton, WWD, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for woe
Noun
Shopping unprepared might just be the biggest furniture woe yet.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2025
Blame It on Rio tells the tale of two middle-aged men who head to Rio de Janeiro to chase young girls amid marital woes.
—Eddie Mouradian, Vulture, 24 Feb. 2025
These woes will only deepen if the U.S. President follows through on his tariff threats.
—Ido Vock, TIME, 22 Feb. 2025
But this may not signal the end of luxury woes as a mixed picture emerged from the breakdown by materials.
—Lily Templeton, WWD, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for woe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for woe
Interjection
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Highlights include a costume parade (for kids and parents), a Purim story and boo Haman and songs.—
Linda McIntosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2024
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Volunteer yourself to help with X, Y and Z accommodations if that lightens the family’s workload, without saying boo about the couple’s choices.—
Carolyn Hax,
Washington Post,
18 Jan. 2024
Noun
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Get ahead of a tween’s difficult feelings by recognizing the early signs of emotional distress, such as disruption in sleep and less interest in their hobbies, and reroute all-or-nothing thoughts, suggests Daniel Huy, PsyD, a clinical psychologist at Hackensack Meridian Health.—
Sherri Gordon,
Parents,
4 Mar. 2025
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The lawsuit alleged battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence and loss of consortium, which allows for recovery of damages for relationships that are mutually dependent.—
Winston Cho,
The Hollywood Reporter,
4 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Residents gathered in Hostages Square, outside Israel's defense headquarters, as sorrow set in across the country.—
Chris Kenning,
USA TODAY,
20 Feb. 2025
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The sorrows of the women are also narrativized with poignancy and emotionality.—
Ritesh Mehta,
IndieWire,
17 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Challenges of rebuilding Victims who lost homes will be faced with the decision whether to rebuild — which can be agony.—
Tony Saavedra,
Orange County Register,
24 Feb. 2025
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Then, Cara’s killshot was followed by her screams of agony at her dire circumstances.—
Hunter Ingram,
Variety,
23 Feb. 2025
Noun
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But last year's Olympics were also a major source of anguish.—
Christopher Intagliata,
NPR,
3 Mar. 2025
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Every repeat viewing of Abraham's performance reveals some new moment of humiliation — some fresh sickening glimmer of anguish that feels all too familiar.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
2 Mar. 2025
Noun
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One of the few remaining positives in his life is upended before the pilot comes to a close, pushing poor Ted that much further into misery.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
23 Feb. 2025
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Human misery and environmental devastation proved the cost of turning coffee from a luxury good into a staple.—
Peter S. Goodman,
New York Times,
22 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Hancock opened up about his struggle with depression, anxiety, grief and PTSD following the September 2024 shooting, which also left nine people injured.—
Devyn Byers,
CNN,
3 Mar. 2025
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The accident claimed her life, leaving family, friends, and fans in profound grief.—
Shelby Stewart,
Essence,
1 Mar. 2025
Interjection
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Studies of fathers have generated some alarmist headlines over the years, and Hrdy has kindly collated them: no dad joke: fatherhood shrinks the brain; aw, nuts!—
Dan Piepenbring,
Harper's Magazine,
30 Mar. 2024
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And then … aw, just cue up the video player for the epic Francisco Lindor homer that won this thing!—
Jayson Stark,
The Athletic,
27 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Woe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/woe. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.
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