woe

[ woh ]

noun

1. profound grief or distress:

   His woe at the terrible news was almost beyond description.

   Synonyms: wretchedness, melancholy, trial, tribulation, anguish

   Antonyms: joy

2. an affliction or cause of distress:

   She suffered a fall, among her other woes.

interjection

1. an exclamation of grief, distress, or lamentation.

woe

/ wəʊ /

noun

1. literary.
   intense grief or misery
2. often plural affliction or misfortune
3. woe betide someone
   woe betide someone misfortune will befall someone

   woe betide you if you arrive late

interjection

1. archaic.
   Alsowoe is me an exclamation of sorrow or distress

Word History and Origins

Origin of woe¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of woe¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. woe betide, trouble or punishment will come upon (someone) if they take the specified action: Also woe to.

   Woe betide anybody who laughed or continued to talk while he was playing.

   Rules about court reporting are strict, and woe betide those who fall foul of them.

   Woe to the pedestrian who gets in a cyclist's way.

2. woe is me, (used to lament one's own distress, affliction, or trouble, sometimes humorously):

   Woe is me, for I am ruined!

   Please don't get the wrong impression, thinking this is a “woe is me” story.

Synonym Study

See sorrow.

Example Sentences

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.

From 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.

From ProPublica

There’s not a definitive solution to the free-throw shooting woes of Paralympic athletes.

From 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.

From 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.

From Voice of San Diego

Woe be to her if another candidate with the appeal of an ice cream truck happens to drive by.

From The 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.

From The 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.

From The Daily Beast

Woe to you who have fallen away from the righteousness of your ancestors!

From The Daily Beast

As the Blizzard of 2014 moves out to sea, it's left a wake of wintery woe behind.

From The Daily Beast

He must be The saltest fish that swims the sea.And, oh!He has a secret woe!

From Project Gutenberg

Woe to the man that first did teach the cursed steel to bite in his own flesh, and make way to the living spirit.

From Project Gutenberg

A woe is pronounced against sinners: the army of God shall send against them.

From Project Gutenberg

Woe to you that rise up early in the morning to follow drunkenness, and to drink in the evening, to be inflamed with wine.

From Project Gutenberg

"They look ever on woe;" and he laid the baby back on Ramona's breast, and stood gazing sadly at her.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• adversity
• anguish
• burden
• calamity
• catastrophe
• disaster
• gloom
• hardship
• headache
• misery
• misfortune
• pain
• tragedy
• trouble