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
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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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of woeful
During that stretch, his average against fastballs was a woeful .146.
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Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2024
Worse, the local government green-lighted the Coliseum’s pricey Mount Davis extension—a woeful plastic surgery that obscured the rolling Oakland hills behind the outfield wall—to bring back the NFL’s Raiders.
—Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 26 Sep. 2024
By the time that series starts, the woeful White Sox (36-120) should probably have lost a game, breaking their current tie with the legendary 1962 New York Mets for the most losses in the majors since the pitiful 1899 Cleveland Spiders went 20-134 in the National League.
—Chuck Murr, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2024
Over the past month, demonstrations protesting the woeful lack of services and widespread corruption have taken place throughout the country.
—Raad Alkadiri, Foreign Affairs, 3 Mar. 2011
See all Example Sentences for woeful 
Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2024
Worse, the local government green-lighted the Coliseum’s pricey Mount Davis extension—a woeful plastic surgery that obscured the rolling Oakland hills behind the outfield wall—to bring back the NFL’s Raiders.
—Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 26 Sep. 2024
By the time that series starts, the woeful White Sox (36-120) should probably have lost a game, breaking their current tie with the legendary 1962 New York Mets for the most losses in the majors since the pitiful 1899 Cleveland Spiders went 20-134 in the National League.
—Chuck Murr, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2024
Over the past month, demonstrations protesting the woeful lack of services and widespread corruption have taken place throughout the country.
—Raad Alkadiri, Foreign Affairs, 3 Mar. 2011
See all Example Sentences for woeful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for woeful
Adjective
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That undoubtedly contributes to the mournful feeling that has enveloped Númenor, which is still dealing with the death of King Tar-Palantir and the fallout of Mount Doom’s eruption, including Míriel’s loss of sight.Keith Phipps, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2024
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Soon a mournful blue light would rise over the islands in the sea.Greg Jackson, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Maybe not the question to ask a Canadian, but could sad smoke breaks bring America together today?Bethy Squires, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2024
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One of Jones’ most famous productions stands as his top-selling title in this sad moment, but it’s not credited to him as an artist.Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The mother of a North Carolina woman who was fatally attacked while vacationing in Mexico is pursuing legal action two years after the tragic incident.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
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Nearly $195,000 was raised through a GoFundMe campaign started for Kaur’s family following her tragic death.Abigail Adams, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024
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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Instead of simply telling CEOs that employees are unhappy, provide hard evidence that points to why.Alena Botros, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2024
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Pickford grew up in a quiet, unhappy house near Richmond Park, in southwest London.Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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In recent years, however, Sedona’s storyline has taken an unfortunate (though not unwarranted) hit.Erin Strout, Outside Online, 11 Nov. 2024
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In his career, Mike Tyson has been known more for his fists and his unfortunate body art choices than his punditry.Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 3 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Monét began her tweet with five heartbroken emojis.Anna Chan, Billboard, 4 Nov. 2024
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Animal lovers have been left heartbroken by a dog who has already been adopted and returned to the shelter twice in her young life.David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The concrete there takes, to me, a much more miserable, oppressive tone.Owen Davies, Curbed, 4 Nov. 2024
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One positive in Green Bay’s miserable offensive performance was the play of running back Josh Jacobs, who finished with 95 yards on 13 carries.Rob Reischel, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near woeful
Cite this Entry
“Woeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/woeful. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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