Synonyms for

Widow

Verb / ˈwɪdəʊ / Another word for widow — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

A woman who has lost her husband by death and has not remarried.

Synonyms & similar words

widowwoman bereaved grieving mourning orphaned bereft alone desolate forlorn lonely single solitary unwed unmarried widowed wretched sad broken-hearted heartbroken tragic sorrowful

Synonyms by register

Formal

bereaved woman surviving spouse

Informal

widow woman

Literary

mourner sorrowing wife

Antonyms

groom husband spouse married man betrothed

Common collocations

  • young widow
  • wealthy widow
  • black widow
  • comfort the widow
  • support the widow
  • a lonely widow
  • the grieving widow

Word family

noun widow
verb widow
adjective widowed

Usage note

While 'widow' is a standard term, it can sometimes carry connotations of pity or fragility. The verb 'to widow' means to cause someone to become a widow or widower.

Example sentences

  1. My neighbor is a widow with three children.
  2. The widow was devastated by her husband's sudden death.
  3. She wore a black dress as a sign of mourning for her widow status.
  4. The widow's daughter got married last month.
  5. The widow inherited her husband's estate after his death.

Quotes

  • A widow's refusal of a lover is seldom so explicit as to exclude hope.
  • The loss of a husband is not the loss of everything.
  • Death is a challenge. It tells us not to waste time... It tells us to tell each other right now that we love each other.

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