Woe: meaning, definitions and examples

Used in literary or formal contexts to express deep sadness or trouble.

• Woe betide anyone who breaks the rules.
• He was filled with woe after hearing the tragic news.

Often used to express a feeling of deep distress caused by loss, disappointment, or other misfortune suffered by oneself or others.

• She felt a deep sorrow when she thought about their lost friendship.
• His letter was full of sorrow and regret.

Commonly used to describe the intense sorrow caused by someone's death or a significant loss.

• She struggled with grief after her mother's passing.
• His grief was evident at the funeral.

Refers to a state of great discomfort or suffering, often physical or mental, and sometimes associated with poverty or hardship.

• Living in poverty caused untold misery for the family.
• His illness brought him a lot of misery.

Use this when talking about deep sadness or trouble, often in a poetic or literary context.

• She experienced great woe after losing her job
• His woe was evident in his sorrowful eyes

Use this when expressing sorrow, regret, or disappointment, often in a literary or slightly dramatic context.

• Alas, we cannot change the past
• She tried her best, but alas, it was not enough

Use this when expressing shock or sudden realization of a negative situation, in a more casual or conversational tone.

• Oh no, I forgot my keys! Oh no, what are we going to do now?

Use this to describe something that is very bad or full of woe, often in a dramatic or formal context, sometimes with a negative connotation.

• Their woeful performance cost them the championship
• The woeful state of the building was evident from the cracks in the walls