woeful

[ˈwəʊf(ə)l]

woeful Definition

  • 1characterized by, expressive of, or causing sorrow or misery
  • 2very bad; deplorable

Using woeful: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "woeful" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    The team's woeful performance led to their defeat.

  • Example

    The woeful state of the economy has left many people unemployed.

  • Example

    She had a woeful expression on her face.

  • Example

    The woeful tale of the orphan touched everyone's heart.

woeful Synonyms and Antonyms

Idioms Using woeful

  • something that is unpleasant or distressing to look at

    Example

    The aftermath of the earthquake was a woeful sight, with buildings reduced to rubble and people crying for help.

  • a woeful tale

    a sad or tragic story

    Example

    The old man told us a woeful tale of how he lost his family in a war.

  • a facial expression that shows sadness or grief

    Example

    Her woeful countenance indicated that she was going through a tough time.

Phrases with woeful

  • a state of being uninformed or lacking knowledge about something

    Example

    His woeful ignorance of basic math concepts made it difficult for him to pass the exam.

  • an inadequate amount or shortage of something

    Example

    The woeful lack of resources in the rural areas is a major concern for the government.

  • woeful condition

    a state of being in poor physical or mental health

    Example

    The woeful condition of the patients in the hospital was a result of the lack of proper medical facilities.

Origins of woeful

from Old English 'woful', meaning 'full of woe'

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Summary: woeful in Brief

The term 'woeful' [ˈwəʊf(ə)l] refers to something that is characterized by, expressive of, or causing sorrow or misery. It can also mean something that is very bad or deplorable. Examples include 'The team's woeful performance led to their defeat.' and 'The woeful state of the economy has left many people unemployed.' Phrases like 'woeful ignorance' and idioms like 'a woeful sight' extend its usage.