as in pains
a state of great suffering of body or mind
a tale of misery and woe
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Recent Examples of woes
If the manager was trying to keep the Dodgers’ hitting woes in perspective, his first baseman was praising the starting pitching after another brilliant start from Tyler Glasnow, who gave up three hits in 5 2/3 innings, striking out nine.
—
Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
The Phillies’ woes stretch way beyond the manager.
—Dan Gelston, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
Gaston County Schools employees are headed to Raleigh to protest as GCS faces its own financial woes.
—Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 29 Apr. 2026
Economic woes sparked the mass protests that were crushed before the war and could again push Iranians into the streets.
—ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
Despite the pending compensation, the money doesn't solve the ongoing water woes.
—Jermont Terry, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
The trigger for her environmental woes — and activism — is a mine.
—Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 20 Apr. 2026
In addition, the recent ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has compounded Iran's woes in the region.
—Louis Casiano, Fox News, 23 Dec. 2024
The holidays are expensive, and financial woes can cause major stress.
—Gael Langdon, arkansasonline.com, 23 Dec. 2024
Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
The Phillies’ woes stretch way beyond the manager.
—Dan Gelston, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
Gaston County Schools employees are headed to Raleigh to protest as GCS faces its own financial woes.
—Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 29 Apr. 2026
Economic woes sparked the mass protests that were crushed before the war and could again push Iranians into the streets.
—ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
Despite the pending compensation, the money doesn't solve the ongoing water woes.
—Jermont Terry, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
The trigger for her environmental woes — and activism — is a mine.
—Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 20 Apr. 2026
In addition, the recent ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has compounded Iran's woes in the region.
—Louis Casiano, Fox News, 23 Dec. 2024
The holidays are expensive, and financial woes can cause major stress.
—Gael Langdon, arkansasonline.com, 23 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for woes
Noun
-
Iran’s political leadership has been at pains to dispel reports of infighting and to project a unified approach to the country’s military objectives and negotiating strategy.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
22 Apr. 2026
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The pressures of fame and the pains of Michael’s brand of friendlessness are barely explored, beyond the requisite scenes of screaming fans crowding outside the family estate and a terrified Michael attempting to get away from them (while still politely waving).—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
And yet, in the scene on the Hill of Love, Lapid offers no self-questioning, no sense of cinematic exertion or trouble, in the fictional framing of the real agonies of Gaza.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
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The celebrated poet and memoirist, delves into the agonies of her decision and describes the emerging women’s liberation movement, of which Moore would soon become a participant.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Inarguably one of the best teams in the country annually, the Boilermakers had a string of March miseries.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
18 Mar. 2026
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And allergy miseries don’t end after the spring.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Woes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/woes. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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