serious sorrow

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "serious sorrow" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a deep or profound feeling of sadness or grief. Example: "After hearing the news of her passing, I was overwhelmed with serious sorrow."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Why?" (We never did hear why, which is a serious sorrow to me).

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The council expressed "sorrow" over the situation.

The New York Times

It seemed as though O'Connell wanted this performance to be serious about its sorrow, but his piano player was too seriously drunk to play the songs correctly.

Vice

That process led him to Vietnamese who have been trying to survive "serious illnesses" and the "sorrow of knowing that their plight, their destiny, is irrevocable".

Huffington Post

Here on earth, though, where joy is rare and our sorrow is continually before us, how serious can a truly serious poet afford to be?

The New York Times - Books

B1 ARTS E1-10 A Changed South Africa Athol Fugard's new play, "Sorrows & Rejoicings," is his first serious attempt to describe the jubilant and uneasy world that has emerged in South Africa after decades of white rule.

The New York Times

Under these circumstances, it is understandable if the rage and sorrow of its members undermine their capacity for serious introspection.

The Guardian - Opinion

One of the chief torments of serious depression is how disproportionate and all-consuming the internal, personal sorrow can feel.

The New York Times

Serious attention was also paid to La teta asustada (The Milk of Sorrow), Claudia Llosa's sober but vividly realized drama about a Peruvian housemaid so afraid of being raped that she blocks access to her vagina with a potato.

Encyclopedia Britannica

And she knows that "to extract the fullest flavor of our drinking house, we needed to spend serious evening time there, slowly coming to know the bartender and the regulars, their joys and sorrows".

The New York Times - Books

Unfortunately, our aesthetic sense of tragedy and comedy, sorrow and happiness, derived from the Greeks, has convinced us that spiritual affliction is a more serious subject than spiritual exultation.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "serious sorrow" to emphasize the depth and significance of sadness. It is more impactful than simply saying "sadness" or "sorrow".

Common error

While "serious sorrow" can be effective, avoid using it too frequently in your writing. Vary your vocabulary with synonyms like "deep grief" or "profound sadness" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "serious sorrow" functions as a noun phrase, where "serious" modifies the noun "sorrow". It intensifies the feeling of sadness, indicating a deep and significant level of grief, as supported by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "serious sorrow" is a grammatically correct phrase used to convey a deep and significant feeling of sadness. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability and appropriateness, and while its frequency is rare, it's most commonly found in news and media contexts. To maintain variety and impact in your writing, consider using synonyms like "deep grief" or "profound sadness".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Deep grief

Emphasizes the intensity and depth of the sadness experienced.

Profound sadness

Highlights the intensity and significance of the sorrow.

Intense grief

Focuses on the overwhelming nature of the sorrow.

Great sadness

A more general term indicating a high degree of sorrow.

Acute sorrow

Highlights the sharp and immediate nature of the sorrow.

Heartfelt sorrow

Emphasizes the genuine and deeply felt nature of the sorrow.

Severe grief

Indicates a very strong and impactful experience of sorrow.

Deep anguish

Implies a more intense and distressing form of sorrow.

Profound lament

Suggests a sorrowful expression of grief or mourning.

Intense mourning

Focuses on the process of grieving with significant sorrow.

FAQs

How can I use "serious sorrow" in a sentence?

You can use "serious sorrow" to describe a deep feeling of sadness or grief, as in "The news of the accident filled him with "serious sorrow"".

What words are similar to "serious sorrow"?

Similar expressions include "deep grief", "profound sadness", or "intense grief". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "serious sorrow" a formal or informal expression?

"Serious sorrow" is a neutral expression suitable for both formal and informal contexts, although it may be more commonly found in written rather than spoken language.

Can "serious sorrow" be used to describe both personal and collective grief?

Yes, "serious sorrow" can describe personal grief (e.g., the "serious sorrow" he felt after losing his friend) or collective grief (e.g., the nation experienced "serious sorrow" after the tragedy).