Woeful: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿ˜ข
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woeful

 

[หˆwษ™สŠfสŠl ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

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 | Adjective

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.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • Originated from the Old English word 'woeful', which meant 'full of woe' or 'full of grief'.
  • The word can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word '*wล' meaning 'sorrow' or 'grief'.
  • Related words include 'woe' and 'woefully', which share similar meanings about distress.

Literature

  • The word 'woeful' often appears in classic literature to convey deep sorrow, such as in Shakespeare's tragedies.
  • In literary contexts, it is used to describe characters experiencing profound adversity or loss.
  • Poets frequently use 'woeful' to evoke sympathy and communicate emotions of despair.

Pop Culture

  • The term has been used in songs and movies to express heartbreak, showcasing its emotional weight in modern narratives.
  • In popular media, characters often exclaim something is 'woeful' to emphasize their dissatisfaction or sadness in a humorous way.
  • The song 'Woeful Days' captures feelings of gloom and is relatable for many going through hard times.

Psychology

  • 'Woeful' is linked to feelings of grief and melancholy, showing how language can express emotional states.
  • Experiencing 'woeful' feelings can impact mental health, highlighting the importance of emotional expression.
  • People often use terms like 'woeful' to communicate complex feelings of loss or regret, facilitating social support.

Translations

Translations of the word "woeful" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น lamentรกvel

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคฆเฅเค–เคฆ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช traurig

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ sedih

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฟะพั…ะผัƒั€ะธะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ ลผaล‚osny

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๆ‚ฒใ—ใ„ (kanashii)

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท triste

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ triste

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท รผzgรผn

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์Šฌํ”ˆ (seulpeun)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู…ุคุณู

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ zarmoucenรฝ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ smutnรฝ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆ‚ฒๆƒจ็š„ (bฤ“icวŽn de)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ ลพalosten

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ sorgmรฆddur

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ า›ะฐะนา“ั‹ะปั‹

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ›แƒฌแƒฃแƒฎแƒแƒ แƒ”

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ kษ™dษ™rli

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ triste

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #26,025, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.