What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Plague vs Woe - What's the difference?

plague | woe | Synonyms |

Plague is a synonym of woe.


As a verb plague

is .

As a noun woe is

grief; sorrow; misery; heavy calamity.

As an adjective woe is

(obsolete) woeful; sorrowful.

plague

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • The bubonic plague, the pestilent disease caused by the virulent bacterium ''Yersinia pestis .
  • (pathology) An epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence, but specifically by the above disease.
  • A widespread affliction, calamity or destructive influx, especially when seen as divine retribution.
  • Ten Biblical plagues over Egypt, ranging from locusts to the death of the crown prince, finally forced Pharaoh to let Moses's people go.
  • A grave nuisance, whatever greatly irritates
  • Bart is an utter plague ; his pranks never cease.

    Synonyms

    * pest

    Derived terms

    * plaguesome * plaguey

    Verb

  • To harass, pester or annoy someone persistently or incessantly.
  • Wikis are often plagued by vandalism
  • To afflict with a disease or other calamity.
  • ''Natural catastrophies plagued the colonists till they abandoned the pestilent marshland

    Derived terms

    * plaguer

    woe

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • grief; sorrow; misery; heavy calamity.
  • * Milton
  • Thus saying, from her side the fatal key, / Sad instrument of all our woe , she took.
  • * Alexander Pope
  • [They] weep each other's woe .
  • A curse; a malediction.
  • * South
  • Can there be a woe or curse in all the stores of vengeance equal to the malignity of such a practice?

    Derived terms

    * in weal or woe * woeful * woe is me

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (obsolete) woeful; sorrowful
  • * Robert of Brunne
  • His clerk was woe to do that deed.
  • * Chaucer
  • Woe was this knight and sorrowfully he sighed.
  • * Spenser
  • And looking up he waxed wondrous woe .

    Anagrams

    *