# woeful

/ˈwoʊfəɫ/ (US) · /wˈəʊfəl/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/woeful
Updated: 2026-10-13

## Definition

very bad or disappointing. You use this to describe something that is of very low quality or makes you feel sad.

For teachers: characterised by expressive of, or causing sorrow or misery; also used to describe something of deplorably low quality.

## Examples

- The team's performance was woeful and they lost the game.
- The charity reported that the living conditions in the refugee camp were woeful, with little access to clean water.
- The candidate's woeful lack of experience in foreign policy became a central theme of the opposition's campaign during the final weeks of the election.

## Synonyms

deplorable, wretched, miserable, appalling, dreadful, terrible, pitiful

## Antonyms

excellent, admirable, superb, impressive

## Usage notes

- Often used to intensify a negative noun, such as 'ignorance', 'neglect', or 'performance'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.