sorrowful
adjective
sor·row·ful ˈsär-(ˌ)ō-fəl 
-ə-fəl,
ˈsȯr-
1
: full of or marked by sorrow
a sorrowful goodbye
2
: expressive of or inducing sorrow
sorrowful eyes
sorrowfully
ˈsär-(ˌ)ō-f(ə-)lē
adverb -ə-f(ə-)lē
ˈsȯr-
sorrowfulness
ˈsär-(ˌ)ō-fəl-nəs
noun -ə-fəl-
ˈsȯr-
Synonyms
- aching
- agonized
- anguished
- bemoaning
- bewailing
- bitter
- deploring
- doleful
- dolesome
- dolorous
- funeral
- grieving
- heartbroken
- lamentable
- lugubrious
- mournful
- plaintive
- plangent
- regretful
- rueful
- sorry
- wailing
- weeping
- woeful
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
adopted a sorrowful tone of voice to read the news story about the former governor's death the cult seemed to be a sorrowful assemblage of emotionally scarred people seeking love and redemption
Recent Examples on the Web The flood of sorrowful memories and admiring tributes for the late Elizabeth II recognizes her multigenerational effect as both a woman and the queen, Times writers Jaweed Kaleem and Tracy Wilkinson reported. 
Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2022 The Braves said in a statement that the news was sorrowful. Dennis Romero, NBC News, 12 Sep. 2022 In a tone more sorrowful than angry, Cox proclaimed his innocence and vowed to wage a vigorous defense. Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2022 Only stand there for ages feeling profoundly sorrowful and impressively stoical. Claire-louise Bennett, Harper’s Magazine , 17 Aug. 2022 Within the space of a close-up (the film was shot by Alfonso Herrera Salcedo), the sorrowful gleam in Faye’s eyes and the lines etched in her brow tell a moving and eloquent story, even before the movie itself makes some of that story explicit. Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 28 July 2022 Young Harris College released a sorrowful statement Monday evening in the wake of Artez’s death. Matt Bruce, ajc, 30 June 2022 The history of medicine is filled with great achievement and sorrowful failure. Carolyn Barber, Fortune, 17 June 2022 That solo excursion soon shows the extent of the trauma hidden behind his easy swagger in a quietly sorrowful scene backed by Tony Buchen’s melancholy electronic score and intercut with images of Casey naked on the rural plains. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 June 2022 See More
Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2022 The Braves said in a statement that the news was sorrowful. Dennis Romero, NBC News, 12 Sep. 2022 In a tone more sorrowful than angry, Cox proclaimed his innocence and vowed to wage a vigorous defense. Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2022 Only stand there for ages feeling profoundly sorrowful and impressively stoical. Claire-louise Bennett, Harper’s Magazine , 17 Aug. 2022 Within the space of a close-up (the film was shot by Alfonso Herrera Salcedo), the sorrowful gleam in Faye’s eyes and the lines etched in her brow tell a moving and eloquent story, even before the movie itself makes some of that story explicit. Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 28 July 2022 Young Harris College released a sorrowful statement Monday evening in the wake of Artez’s death. Matt Bruce, ajc, 30 June 2022 The history of medicine is filled with great achievement and sorrowful failure. Carolyn Barber, Fortune, 17 June 2022 That solo excursion soon shows the extent of the trauma hidden behind his easy swagger in a quietly sorrowful scene backed by Tony Buchen’s melancholy electronic score and intercut with images of Casey naked on the rural plains. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 June 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
sorrowful
adjective
sor·row·ful ˈsär-ō-fəl
-ə-fəl
1
: full of or showing sadness
a sorrowful face
2
: causing sadness
a sorrowful tale
sorrowful
adjective
1
as in mournful
expressing or suggesting mourning adopted a sorrowful tone of voice to read the news story about the former governor's death Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- mournful
- weeping
- heartbroken
- funeral
- grieving
- bitter
- melancholy
- sad
- wailing
- anguished
- doleful
- tearful
- regretful
- unhappy
- dolorous
- lamentable
- somber
- plaintive
- lugubrious
- agonized
- sorry
- aching
- rueful
- bewailing
- depressed
- woeful
- plangent
- crying
- morbid
- deploring
- dark
- bleak
- funereal
- bemoaning
- keening
- elegiac
- dejected
- dolesome
- downcast
- disconsolate
- pathetic
- miserable
- heartsick
- groaning
- downcast
- gloomy
- moody
- dispirited
- inconsolable
- forlorn
- downhearted
- desolate
- moaning
- despondent
- darkening
- woebegone
- downhearted
- crestfallen
- glum
- careworn
- miserable
- morose
- brokenhearted
- piteous
- suffering
- gloomy
- cheerless
- heartsore
- sullen
- triste
- bleeding
- howling
- bawling
- wretched
- pessimistic
- elegiacal
- gray
- low-spirited
- glum
- joyless
- dismal
- black
- comfortless
- dreary
- sombre
- dirgelike
- low
- saturnine
- yammering
- grey
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- joyful
- triumphant
- happy
- cheerful
- joyous
- cheery
- bright
- smiling
- delighted
- rejoicing
- laughing
- merry
- mirthful
- exulting
- blissful
- jolly
- hopeful
- optimistic
- lighthearted
- buoyant
- blithe
- glorying
- rapturous
- encouraging
- ecstatic
- cheering
- euphoric
- blithesome
- jocund
- giddy
- rhapsodic
- heady
- rhapsodical
- elated
- exhilarated
2
as in sad
feeling unhappiness the cult seemed to be a sorrowful assemblage of emotionally scarred people seeking love and redemption Synonyms & Similar Words
- sad
- unhappy
- heartbroken
- depressed
- melancholy
- miserable
- mournful
- sorry
- bad
- upset
- worried
- doleful
- melancholic
- uneasy
- dejected
- disappointed
- downcast
- troubled
- disconsolate
- gloomy
- hopeless
- heartsick
- forlorn
- woebegone
- saddened
- inconsolable
- downhearted
- crestfallen
- joyless
- despondent
- glum
- brokenhearted
- wretched
- woeful
- heavyhearted
- depressing
- distressed
- blue
- hangdog
- droopy
- suicidal
- down
- heartsore
- low-spirited
- cast down
- discouraged
- grieving
- tearful
- despairing
- low
- somber
- aggrieved
- weeping
- unquiet
- dispirited
- regretful
- dolorous
- anguished
- bleak
- plaintive
- lugubrious
- disheartened
- sunk
- desolate
- morbid
- lachrymose
- down in the mouth
- morose
- agonized
- rueful
- elegiac
- cheerless
- wailing
- sullen
- dark
- dismal
- comfortless
- gray
- dreary
- funereal
- drear
- darkening
- sombre
- saturnine
- black
- murky
- elegiacal
- grey
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- joyful
- joyous
- cheerful
- jubilant
- happy
- blissful
- cheery
- upbeat
- gleeful
- glad
- exultant
- exuberant
- buoyant
- rapturous
- ecstatic
- euphoric
- merry
- sunny
- jovial
- mirthful
- delighted
- rhapsodic
- enraptured
- jolly
- buoyed
- rhapsodical
- optimistic
- elated
- overjoyed
- hopeful
- blithesome
- jocular
- chipper
- exhilarated
- blithe
- jocund
- jocose
- lightsome
- gladsome
- excited
- gladdened
- rosy
- sanguine
- entranced
- spirited
- energetic
- vivacious
- thrilled
- smiling
- lively
- vital
- perky
- satisfied
- animated
- sprightly
- frisky
- content
- jaunty
- laughing
- peppy
- careless
- springy
- pleased
- encouraged
- lighthearted
- carefree
- gratified
- bouncing
- unconcerned
- easygoing
- grinning
- zippy
- heartened
- cavalier
- insouciant
- beaming
- boon
- sprightful
- happy-go-lucky
- devil-may-care