woeful
5 synonyms and 1 antonym for woeful, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Full of sorrow or distress.
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.
Antonyms
How to use woeful
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
woeful performance
woeful lack of
a woeful state
Etymology
From Middle English woful, formed from woe plus -ful.
Full origin of woeful →Frequently asked questions
What does “woeful” mean?
The word “woeful” means full of sorrow or distress. In plain terms, either genuinely sorrowful, or (more commonly today) shockingly bad or inadequate.
How do you pronounce “woeful”?
“Woeful” is pronounced WOH-fuhl (/ˈwəʊfəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “woeful” in a sentence?
Here is “woeful” used in a sentence: “She wore a woeful expression as she read the letter.”
What part of speech is “woeful”?
“Woeful” is an adjective.
Where does the word “woeful” come from?
The word “woeful” comes from Middle English. From Middle English woful, formed from woe plus -ful.
How many meanings does “woeful” have?
“Woeful” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: full of sorrow or distress.
