Woeful: meaning, definitions and examples

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woeful

[ ˈwəʊfʊl ]

^{Context #1}

feeling or showing deep sorrow or distress

Having or showing a lot of sadness or suffering. Full of sorrow or distress. Expressing sorrow or misery. Miserable or very bad. Extremely sad or unhappy.

Synonyms

miserable, mournful, sorrowful, unhappy

Examples of usage

He gave a woeful sigh as he looked at the destruction.
She had a woeful expression on her face.
The team's performance was woeful, resulting in a heavy defeat.
The news of the tragedy left everyone feeling woeful.
The woeful tale of the orphan touched everyone's hearts.

^{Context #2}

very poor or bad; deplorable

Of very poor quality or condition. Extremely bad or unsatisfactory. Deserving pity or compassion. Deplorable or pitiable. Very inadequate or unsatisfactory.

Synonyms

bad, deplorable, pitiable, poor

Examples of usage

The woeful state of the country's economy was evident to all.
They lived in a woeful little cottage on the edge of town.
The team's performance was woeful, with multiple errors and failures.
His attempt at singing was woeful, causing laughter among the audience.
The woeful conditions in the refugee camp were heartbreaking.

Translations

Translations of the word "woeful" in other languages:

🇵🇹 lamentável

🇮🇳 दुखद

🇩🇪 traurig

🇮🇩 sedih

🇺🇦 похмурий

🇵🇱 żałosny

🇯🇵 悲しい (kanashii)

🇫🇷 triste

🇪🇸 triste

🇹🇷 üzgün

🇰🇷 슬픈 (seulpeun)

🇸🇦 مؤسف

🇨🇿 zarmoucený

🇸🇰 smutný

🇨🇳 悲惨的 (bēicǎn de)

🇸🇮 žalosten

🇮🇸 sorgmæddur

🇰🇿 қайғылы

🇬🇪 მწუხარე

🇦🇿 kədərli

🇲🇽 triste

Word origin

The word 'woeful' originated from the Old English 'woful', which meant full of woe or sorrow. It has been used in English literature for centuries to describe deep sorrow, distress, or deplorable conditions. The term has evolved to encompass both emotional and descriptive meanings, reflecting a sense of sadness, misery, or inadequacy. Over time, 'woeful' has become a versatile adjective to convey a range of negative emotions and conditions.