woe

First recorded before 900; Middle English wo (interjection and noun), Old English wā (interjection) (cf. wellaway); cognate with Dutch wee,German Weh,Old Norse vei,Latin vae

synonym study for woe

1. See sorrow.

Words nearby woe

wocas, Wodehouse, Woden, wodge, Wodzislaw Slaski, woe, woebegone, woeful, woefully, woesome, wof

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use woe in a sentence

The city’s stormwater woes are felt most acutely in the same neighborhoods that have been historically left behind when it comes to infrastructure investments.
Morning Report: The Stormwater Deficit Is a Big Deal|Voice of San Diego|February 8, 2021|Voice of San Diego
The problem is compounded by a growing waitlist and the department’s chronic money woes, shortfalls that prompt the agency to lease some of its Oahu lands to commercial interests.
The Government Promised to Return Ancestral Hawaiian Land, Then Never Finished the Job|by Rob Perez, Honolulu Star-Advertiser, and Agnel Philip, ProPublica|December 19, 2020|ProPublica
There’s not a definitive solution to the free-throw shooting woes of Paralympic athletes.
Why Are Free Throws So Much Harder To Come By In Wheelchair Basketball?|John Loeppky|November 30, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
Translating that advice into action will be no easy task in today’s political climate, but the report suggests it’s time to stop blaming technology for our woes.
MIT Report: Robots Aren’t the Biggest Threat to the Future of Work—Policy Is|Edd Gent|November 23, 2020|Singularity Hub

The push for more dramatic responses to the city’s homelessness and housing woes line up with the results of recent VOSD polling showing the vast majority of county residents consider those issues among the region’s foremost crises.
Morning Report: Voters Sent a Message on Housing Solutions|Voice of San Diego|November 5, 2020|Voice of San Diego
Woe be to her if another candidate with the appeal of an ice cream truck happens to drive by.
The Coronation That Wants to Be a Movement: Scenes From Hillary’s Iowa Steak Fry|Ana Marie Cox|September 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But instead of a witty pop song, we have yet more woe-is-me-feel-my-pain from an overpaid, over-cosseted celebrity.
Why We Should Hate 'Haters Gonna Hate'|Tim Teeman|August 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Woe unto the politicians and parties that fail to grok this, as they will face only bigger and bigger losses in market share.
Hey, Boomers—Millennials Hate Your Partisan Crap|Nick Gillespie|July 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Woe to you who have fallen away from the righteousness of your ancestors!
Did the Southern Baptist ‘Conservative Resurgence’ Fail?|Molly Worthen|June 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As the Blizzard of 2014 moves out to sea, it's left a wake of wintery woe behind.
After the Blizzard, 100 Million People Will Be Hit With Freezing Air From the North Pole|Eric Holthaus|January 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He must be The saltest fish that swims the sea.And, oh!He has a secret woe!
Boys and Girls Bookshelf; a Practical Plan of Character Building, Volume I (of 17)|Various
Woe to the man that first did teach the cursed steel to bite in his own flesh, and make way to the living spirit.
Pearls of Thought|Maturin M. Ballou
A woe is pronounced against sinners: the army of God shall send against them.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
Woe to you that rise up early in the morning to follow drunkenness, and to drink in the evening, to be inflamed with wine.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
"They look ever on woe;" and he laid the baby back on Ramona's breast, and stood gazing sadly at her.
Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson

British Dictionary definitions for woe

woe

/ (wəʊ) /

noun

literary intense grief or misery

(often plural) affliction or misfortune

woe betide someone misfortune will befall someonewoe betide you if you arrive late

interjection

Also: woe is me archaic an exclamation of sorrow or distress

Word Origin for woe

Old English wā, wǣ; related to Old Saxon, Old High German wē, Old Norse vei, Gothic wai, Latin vae, Sanskrit uvē; see wail

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

woe

OTHER WORDS FOR woe

OPPOSITES FOR woe

Origin of woe

synonym study for woe

Words nearby woe

Words related to woe

How to use woe in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for woe

Word Origin for woe