sob story

noun

: a sentimental story or account intended chiefly to evoke sympathy or sadness

Examples of sob story in a Sentence

She told a sob story about how she had to starve herself to pay for the rent. I don't want to hear any of your sob stories.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The half-million-dollar sob story. — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 6 May 2026 The more fantastical, the better—sob stories welcome, but not necessary. — Connor Sturges, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Apr. 2026 On top of this, Tina has opened a new fundraising page with a sob story about her cancer returning and being hospitalized about a week before that request. — Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026 This was a big, fat softball thrown right over the middle of the plate for all three finalists — a chance to show off a personal sob story and connect with the jury on a deeply emotional level. — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sob story

Word History

First Known Use

1913, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sob story was in 1913

Rhymes for sob story

See All Rhymes for sob story

Browse Nearby Words

sob sister
sob story
sob stuff
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sob story.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sob%20story. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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