Synonyms for sorrowful
ˈsɒr ə fəl, ˈsɔr-sor·row·ful

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:1.0 / 1 vote

1. sorrowfuladjective

   Synonyms:
   mournful, lamentable, grievous

2. sorrowfuladjective

   Of a person, full of sorrow; exhibiting sorrow; sad; dejected; distressed; distraught.

   Synonyms:
   mournful, lamentable, grievous

3. sorrowfuladjective

   Producing sorrow; exciting grief; mournful; lamentable; grievous.

   sorrowful accident

   Synonyms:
   mournful, grievous, lamentable

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:4.0 / 1 vote

1. sorrowful

   Pitiful originally signified full of pity; as, "the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy," James v, 11; but this usage is now archaic, and the meaning in question is appropriated by such words as merciful and compassionate. Pitiful and pitiable now refer to what may be deserving of pity, pitiful being used chiefly for that which is merely an object of thought, pitiable for that which is brought directly before the senses; as, a pitiful story; a pitiable object; a pitiable condition. Since pity, however, always implies weakness or inferiority in that which is pitied, pitiful and pitiable are often used, by an easy transition, for what might awaken pity, but does awaken contempt; as, a pitiful excuse; he presented a pitiable appearance. Piteous is now rarely used in its earlier sense of feeling pity, but in its derived sense applies to what really excites the emotion; as, a piteous cry. Compare HUMANE; MERCY; PITY.

   Synonyms:
   abject, base, contemptible, despicable, lamentable, miserable, mournful, moving, paltry, pathetic, piteous, pitiable, pitiful, touching, woful, wretched

   Antonyms:
   august, beneficent, commanding, dignified, exalted, glorious, grand, great, helpful, lofty, mighty, noble, sublime, superb, superior

Princeton's WordNetRate these antonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. sorrowfuladjective

   experiencing or marked by or expressing sorrow especially that associated with irreparable loss

   "sorrowful widows"; "a sorrowful tale of death and despair"; "sorrowful news"; "even in laughter the heart is sorrowful"- Proverbs 14:13

   Antonyms:
   joyful, overjoyed, beatific

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. sorrowfuladjective

   Synonyms:
   grieved, afflicted, in sorrow, in mourning

2. sorrowfuladjective

   Synonyms:
   sad, mournful, grievous, lamentable, distressing, painful, dismal, doleful, melancholy, sorry, piteous, woful, rueful, moving pity, exciting compassion

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. sorrowfuladjective

   Synonyms:
   sad

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "sorrowful":

   sad, regrettable, unfortunate

How to pronounce sorrowful?

How to say sorrowful in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use sorrowful in a sentence?

1. Kahlil Gibran:

   When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.

2. Seán O'Casey:

   Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed, great as each may be, their highest comfort given to the sorrowful is a cordial introduction into another's woe. Sorrow's the great community in which all men born of woman are members at one time or another.

3. Ruckett:

   Whether joy or sorrowful, the heart needs a double, because a joy shared is doubled and a pain that is shared is divided.

4. Selma Lagerloef:

   He who is sorrowful can force himself to smile, but he who is glad cannot weep.

5. Kahlil Gibran:

   The tears that you spill, the sorrowful, are sweeter than the laughter of snobs and the guffaws of scoffers.