WordGarden.iowoeful
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /wˈəʊfəl/
US
- /ˈwoʊfəl/
Meanings
Adjective
very bad or seriously inadequate
deeply sad or full of sorrow
Beyond the definition
If something is woeful, it is either deeply sad and full of grief, or very bad in a disappointing way. A woeful tale is the kind of story that makes people feel sorrow. But the word is not only about feelings. A woeful performance by a sports team means they played very badly. You can also talk about a woeful lack of funding, preparation, or support when there is far less than is needed. The word often carries a sense of sadness, failure, or misfortune.
Shakespeare famously loved using "woeful"—you'll find it sprinkled throughout his plays to emphasize tragic elements. He used it to paint vivid pictures that really tug at the heartstrings!
The word "woeful" describes something filled with sorrow, grief, or unhappiness. It goes beyond simple sadness and often suggests deep suffering or misery. For example, saying "she told a woeful story about losing her home" suggests that the story was painful and deeply moving.
However, "woeful" is not always about emotions. It can also describe something that is extremely poor, inadequate, or of low quality. A "woeful lack of preparation" means there was nowhere near enough done to get ready for a task, while a "woeful attempt at baking a cake" suggests a very poor result. In these cases, "woeful" emphasizes how bad or disappointing something is.
The origin of "woeful" lies in Old English, connected to the word wā, meaning sorrow or woe. This historical connection explains why it carries such a strong emotional weight today. You'll often encounter "woeful" when describing unfortunate events, tragic circumstances, or things that are simply very poor in quality. It is a powerful adjective that adds depth and gravity to your writing. Think of a "woeful cry"—a sound filled with despair—or a "woeful state of affairs," a situation that is deeply troubling.
Whether describing deep sadness, terrible quality, or unfortunate circumstances, "woeful" paints a picture of sorrow, disappointment, and misfortune.
Examples
- 1
Sports performance
The team gave a woeful performance in the second half.
- 2
Housing shortage
There is a woeful lack of affordable housing in the city.
- 3
Personal ability
I'm woeful at remembering birthdays.
- Patternwoeful at + activity
very bad at it
- 4
Poor condition
After years without repairs, the road was in a woeful state.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Legal ignorance
His report showed a woeful ignorance of the law.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- woeful performance
- woeful lack of
- woeful record
- woefully inadequate
Word family
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Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- woefuladjective