woefully

UK: /ˈwəʊfʊli/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

woe•ful /ˈwoʊfəl/   adj. 

1. full of woe;
   wretched:
   a woeful situation in the war-torn country.
2. affected with, characterized by, or causing woe:
   the woeful news of the tragedy.
3. of poor quality;
   awful;
   terrible;
   deplorable:
   a woeful bunch of job applicants.

woe•ful•ly, adv.: 

a woefully inadequate diet.

woe•ful•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

woe•ful  (wō′fəl), adj. 

1. full of woe;
   wretched;
   unhappy:
   a woeful situation.
2. affected with, characterized by, or indicating woe:
   woeful melodies.
3. of wretched quality;
   sorry;
   poor:
   a woeful collection of paintings.

Also, wo′ful. 

• 1250–1300; Middle English; see woe, -ful

woe′ful•ly, adv. 
woe′ful•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 3. . unpromising, unlikely, dreadful, awful.