Between astonishment and sorrow, she could not speak a word.
Source: tatoeba (18879)
Sorrow
/ˈsɒɹ.əʊ/
Synonyms for "sorrow" (206 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (42)
acheadversityafflictafflictionaggrieveagonizeagonyanguishapologiesapologyattritionayenbite of inwitbad luckbemoanbemoaningbewailbewailingbitter cupbitter draftbitter draught
Show 13 more words
bitter pillbitternessbleedbreak downbring to tearsbrood overburdenburden of carecankerworm of carecarecarescarking carecontriteness
Adjective(1 words)
acute sadness
Strong matches (61)
contritioncrosscrown of thornscrushcrycursecut updejectiondeploredepressiondesolatedesolatenessdesolationdesperationdirgediscomfortdismaydistressdoledolor
Show 24 more words
draw tearselegizeembitterencumbranceevilfretgallgall and wormwoodgive sorrow wordsgloomgriefgrievancegrievegrievinggroanguilthard luckhardshipheartacheheartbreakheartfelt griefheartgriefhowlinginfliction
Noun(14 words)
contritiondeploringdespairdistressdoldolourelegyemotional tearingfeeling bluegriefsgrieveheartachesheartbreakshurts
Adjective(1 words)
deep sadness
Related words (103)
inundatekeenkeeningknelllamentlamentationlamentinglanguishmentloadmelancholymiserymisfortunemoanmoaningmopemournmourningoppressoppressionoverwhelm
Show 51 more words
pack of troublespainpeck of troublespinepine awaypiningpitypressureprostrateprostrationregretregretfulnessregretsregrettingremorseremorse of conscienceremorsefulnessrepinerepiningruesadnesssea of troublesshameshamefacednessshamefastnessshamefulnesssighsing the bluessobsorrinesssorrowfulnesssorrowingstrainsufferingtake onthorntormenttravailtrialtribulationtroubleululationunhappinesswailingwaters of bitternessweepweep overweightwistfulnesswoewretchedness
Noun(29 words)
lamentlossmegrimsmelancholiamelancholymisfortunemournmournfulnessmourningold norse kár 'grief'penapenitenceplangencyprofound sadnessregretremorserepentancerueruefulnessrues
Verb(1 words)
Adjective(2 words)
sad moodsteady tearing motion
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: grief, sadness, ache, acute sadness, adversity.
- Sentence evidence is available for sorrow, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "sorrow".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "sorrow"
Keep "sorrow" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "sorrow" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "sorrow", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "sorrow" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
21 entriesacheaffectartistic expressionemotionemotional actionemotional stateemotional toneeventexclamationexperiencefeelinghurtliterary formmoodmoral sentimentnegative stimulus
Showing 16 of 21 words.
More specific
22 entriesalascontritiondesolationelegygodly sorrowgriefgrief episodegrieveheartachelamentmelancholymournpastoral elegypenitenceprivate sorrowpublic sorrow
Showing 16 of 22 words.
Collocations
9 entriesdeep sorrowgreat sorrowlasting sorrownational sorrowprofound sorrowseason of sorrowsorrow for sinsorrowful moodutter sorrow
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
3 entriesAntonyms
1 entriesSample sentences
19 total sentences available.
Joy was mingled with sorrow.
Source: tatoeba (20680)
Delight is the opposite of sorrow.
Source: tatoeba (20683)
It is easier to sympathize with sorrow than to sympathize with joy.
Source: tatoeba (20685)
Showing 4 of 19 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "sorrow"?
Closest matches include grief, sadness, ache, acute sadness, adversity.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "sorrow"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.