woebegone
To be woebegone is to be sad, forlorn, or heartbroken. The woebegone expression on your face tells everyone how totally bummed out you are.
The word woebegone doesn't make its meaning clear at first glance: it seems to imply that woe, or extreme sadness, is gone. This adjective actually stems from a Middle English phrase, wo begon, "beset or surrounded by woe." So if you see your friend looking upset or glum, you might want to ask, "Why so woebegone?"
-
affected by or full of grief or woe
-
worn and broken down by hard use
Vocabulary lists containing woebegone
In this ballad, a knight falls under the spell of a beautiful, supernatural being.
King Henry IV worries that his son Hal, who associates with criminals, is not fit to become King of England.
Whether you're describing a feeling of deep grief or undeserved rejection, there are many words to express the different kinds of sadness that people experience. For more synonym lists, explore our Say What You Mean resources.
Look up woebegone for the last time
Close your vocabulary gaps with personalized learning that focuses on teaching the words you need to know.
