woe
13 synonyms and 6 antonyms for woe, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Deep sadness or distress, or a misfortune that causes it.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
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.
Antonyms
How to use woe
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
tales of woe
woe betide
financial woes
"Woe is me" is deliberately old-fashioned and now used mostly in a joking, self-mocking way.
Etymology
From Old English wā, an ancient cry of grief found across many Indo-European languages — related to Latin vae and Ancient Greek οὐαί, both also meaning "woe!"
Full origin of woe →Frequently asked questions
What does “woe” mean?
The word “woe” means deep sadness or distress, or a misfortune that causes it. In plain terms, great sorrow or trouble, or the misfortunes that cause it.
How do you pronounce “woe”?
“Woe” is pronounced woh (/woʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “woe” in a sentence?
Here is “woe” used in a sentence: “He poured out his woes to anyone who would listen.”
What is another word for “woe”?
Words with a similar meaning to “woe” include affliction, aggrievance, distress, grief, grievance and hardship.
What is the opposite of “woe”?
The opposite of “woe” — its antonyms — are benefit, boon, fortune, joy and laugh.
What part of speech is “woe”?
Depending on how it is used, “woe” can be a noun and an intj.
Where does the word “woe” come from?
The word “woe” comes from Ancient Greek. From Old English wā, an ancient cry of grief found across many Indo-European languages — related to Latin vae and Ancient Greek οὐαί, both also meaning "woe!".
Is “woe” a common word?
“Woe” is an uncommon word in modern English.
