sorrowful

adjective

sor·​row·​ful ˈsär-(ˌ)ō-fəl How to pronounce sorrowful (audio)
-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 How to pronounce sorrowful (audio)
-ə-f(ə-)lē
ˈsȯr-
adverb
sorrowfulness
ˈsär-(ˌ)ō-fəl-nəs How to pronounce sorrowful (audio)
-ə-fəl-
ˈsȯr-
noun

Examples of sorrowful in a Sentence

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The lawyer, played by Kayla Wallace, listens with the sorrowful look of a child who has burned down a Ronald McDonald house with her terminally ill brother inside. Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 9 Mar. 2025 Being successful in America, according to Part II, inherently means becoming the bad guy, and Francis Ford Coppola mourns that fact, abetted by arguably Pacino’s finest, most sorrowful performance as a man who sells every bit of his soul to maintain his power. Will Leitch, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2025 The funeral procession begins with a sorrowful requiem but transitions into a celebration of life — reminding us that life extends beyond death, that grief is not the absence of love but an extension of it. Mathew Holloway, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2025 Such sentiments may not be entirely avoidable, but party planners can emphasize fun and a festive atmosphere to ensure the night is celebratory and not sorrowful. Metro Creative Services, Boston Herald, 24 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sorrowful

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sorrowful was before the 12th century

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Cite this Entry

“Sorrowful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sorrowful. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

sorrowful

adjective
sor·​row·​ful ˈsär-ō-fəl How to pronounce sorrowful (audio)
ˈsȯr-,
-ə-fəl
1
: full of or showing sorrow
a sorrowful good-bye
2
: expressive of or causing sorrow
sorrowful eyes
sorrowfully adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on sorrowful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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