woeful Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite affected by or full of grief or woe
    woebegone.
    • his sorrow...made him look...haggard and...woebegone"- George du Maurier
  2. adjective satellite of very poor quality or condition
    miserable; execrable; deplorable; wretched.
    • deplorable housing conditions in the inner city
    • woeful treatment of the accused
    • woeful errors of judgment

WordNet

Woe"ful, Wo"ful adjective (Also<
  • Woeful
  • Woful
)
Definitions
  1. Full of woe; sorrowful; distressed with grief or calamity; afflicted; wretched; unhappy; sad.
    How many woeful widows left to bow To sad disgrace! Daniel.
  2. Bringing calamity, distress, or affliction; as, a woeful event; woeful want.
    O woeful day! O day of woe! Philips.
  3. Wretched; paltry; miserable; poor.
    What woeful stuff this madrigal would be! Pope.

Webster 1913