WOES Synonyms: 45 Similar and Opposite Words

woes

noun

plural of woe

as in pains

a state of great suffering of body or mind a tale of misery and woe

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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.

Recent Examples of woes The water woes must be seen in the context of Puerto Rico’s dependency on the United States. — Isabel Rosales, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026 Her legal woes were chronicled during season two and three of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. — Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2026 This follows the end of Nyakio Grieco’s and Thirteen Lune’s legal woes in November 2025. — Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026 Brought to the region to address economic and environmental woes shaped by the ghost of plantation slavery, kudzu was later abandoned as shifting needs rendered the plant unnecessary. — The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 26 Aug. 2026 Many balked at the price tag, especially in light of the county’s ongoing budgetary woes. — Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 26 Aug. 2026 These woes aren’t news to city staff, who met with residents last month to discuss possible solutions, such as new turn lanes and improved bicycle connections, that would be funded by nearby developer fees. — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026 Despite the injury woes, the Dodgers still have been good enough to be among the best teams in the National League. — Doug Padilla, Oc Register, 24 Aug. 2026 His retirement serves as a poignant reminder of the demanding journey in professional baseball, contrasting with Toronto's ongoing injury woes. — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for woes

Noun

In cases that are considered to be too severe — such as when a pregnant woman at the center began experiencing labor pains — those individuals are airlifted to a nearby hospital.

— ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
California has taken pains to eliminate coal as a source of electricity, and this would be the first coal export terminal in California — or anywhere on the West Coast.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of pains

Noun

Some residents said hope is elusive given the island’s litany of miseries – from natural disasters to a bankrupt government to a financial control board that manages funding for infrastructure.

— Isabel Rosales, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
Cyclospora, an intestinal parasite, has sickened thousands of people and hospitalized hundreds with explosive diarrhea, painful cramping, or other gastrointestinal miseries.

— Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of miseries

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woefulness

woes

woke

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“Woes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/woes. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of woes

noun

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