sorrowful
8 synonyms and 1 antonym for sorrowful, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Feeling or showing deep sadness.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adj
Feeling or showing deep sadness.
“She gave a sorrowful smile as she said goodbye.”
Opposites
2. adj
Causing sadness or grief.
“It was a sorrowful tale of loss and hardship.”
How to use sorrowful
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
sorrowful expression
sorrowful news
a sorrowful sigh
Etymology
From sorrow + -ful, built the same way as "hopeful" or "joyful."
Full origin of sorrowful →Frequently asked questions
What does “sorrowful” mean?
The word “sorrowful” means feeling or showing deep sadness. In plain terms, full of sorrow — sad, whether describing a person's expression or a sad event.
How do you pronounce “sorrowful”?
“Sorrowful” is pronounced SO-roh-fuhl (/ˈsɑɹoʊfəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “sorrowful” in a sentence?
Here is “sorrowful” used in a sentence: “She gave a sorrowful smile as she said goodbye.”
What part of speech is “sorrowful”?
“Sorrowful” is an adjective.
How many meanings does “sorrowful” have?
“Sorrowful” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: feeling or showing deep sadness.
