What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
sorrow
Example
She felt great sorrow when her grandmother passed away. [sorrow: noun]
Example
He sorrowed over the loss of his job for weeks. [sorrowed: verb]
misery
Example
The refugees were living in misery, with no access to basic necessities. [misery: noun]
Example
She was miserable after her breakup and couldn't stop crying. [miserable: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Sorrow is more commonly used than misery in everyday language. Sorrow is a common emotion that people experience in response to various life events, while misery is a more extreme and less common state of being.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between sorrow and misery?
Both sorrow and misery can be used in formal or informal contexts, but sorrow is generally considered more appropriate for formal situations, such as expressing condolences or sympathy.
