sorrowful

[ sor-uh-fuhl, sawr- ]

/ ˈsɒr ə fəl, ˈsɔr- /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: sorrowful / sorrowfully / sorrowfulness on Thesaurus.com

Definition of sorrowful

adjective

full of or feeling sorrow; grieved; sad.

showing or expressing sorrow; mournful; plaintive: a sorrowful song.

involving or causing sorrow; distressing: a sorrowful event.

1 unhappy, grieving.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

before 900; Middle English sorowful,Old English sorgful.See sorrow, -ful

sor·row·ful·ly, adverbsor·row·ful·ness, nouno·ver·sor·row·ful, adjectiveo·ver·sor·row·ful·ly, adverb

o·ver·sor·row·ful·ness, noun

Forsberg conveys the story’s sadness with the sorrowful ballad “Heart of Stone.”
‘Six’ an empowering musical remix of English history|Patrick Folliard|August 4, 2022|Washington Blade
Sanford subsequently engaged in sorrowful interviews with the Associated Press and other outlets, in an effort to be forgiven by South Carolinians.
America’s strange obsession with marital affairs|Isaac Amend|January 29, 2022|Washington Blade
Still, she said there have been many nights where she has lain awake, thinking of Floyd, sorrowful that she did not do more to save his life.
My violent assault, the bystanders who did nothing, and what it means to bear witness|Kim Le|April 2, 2021|Vox
It is also one of the few places in Georgia where the sorrowful beauty of the call to prayer still can be heard.
The Secret Life of an ISIS Warlord|Will Cathcart, Vazha Tavberidze, Nino Burchuladze|October 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST

He was consumed by a sorrowful bitterness and cynicism that could only be responded to with large purses.
Bloody Brilliant|Stanley Crouch|April 24, 2009|DAILY BEAST
She felt very sorrowful as she smoothed the homely garments, and placed them in a small leathern trunk.
The World Before Them|Susanna Moodie
Ney and Marmont did not accompany the other Commissioners with their sorrowful terms; like rats they left the sinking ship.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
For the affliction of the daughter of my people I am afflicted, and made sorrowful, astonishment hath taken hold on me.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
The post-boy returned, sorrowful, to Petersfield, where he procured another horse and rode back to Liphook.
The Portsmouth Road and Its Tributaries|Charles G. Harper
For she must always find something to be glad of before she could be sorrowful about any thing.
Tessa Wadsworth's Discipline|Jennie M. Drinkwater