Woebegone-eyed

Characterized by eyes that express profound sorrow, misery, or unhappiness; a look that betrays deep sadness or a sense of being burdened by troubles. The term combines "woebegone", meaning looking sad or miserable, with "eyed" to emphasize the visual manifestation of this emotional state. This gaze often suggests a resigned acceptance of hardship, a feeling of hopelessness, or a quiet despair that is etched into the eyes, which may appear downcast, dull, or tearful. It conveys a depth of feeling that goes beyond simple sadness. The eyes serve as windows into a soul weighed down by troubles. It's a look that evokes empathy and understanding, a visual representation of the weight of the world.

Woebegone-eyed meaning with examples

• The stray dog, huddled in the alley, had a woebegone-eyed gaze that melted my heart. He looked thin and frightened, his eyes filled with a haunting sadness that spoke volumes about his plight. He seemed to have lost all hope, with no clear sense of what might come next or where to find comfort, his eyes revealing all the pain.
• After the devastating news, she sat silently, her woebegone-eyed expression a mirror to her inner turmoil. The loss she had sustained was written all over her features, with her eyes particularly betraying a deep sorrow that no words could express; she did not speak but her eyes provided a window into her suffering.
• The prisoner, shackled and brought before the court, had a woebegone-eyed appearance that spoke of years of hardship and confinement. His eyes seemed to have lost their shine and he looked broken; the light had faded, and he seemed ready to surrender.
• The protagonist, upon realizing the consequences of his actions, looked in the mirror at his woebegone-eyed self, understanding the depths of his regret. The betrayal he had inflicted on himself was visible in his features, making it impossible to hide his feelings any longer; he realized he had lost something precious to him.