/ ˈwəʊfl; NAmE ˈwoʊfl/ adjective
1.
[ usually before noun ] very bad or serious; that you disapprove of
SYN deplorable :
She displayed a woeful ignorance of the rules.
2.
( literary or formal ) very sad :
a woeful face
woeful tales of broken romances
► woe·ful·ly / -fəli; NAmE / adverb