miserable

[ miz-er-uh-buhl, miz-ruh- ]

adjective

1. wretchedly unhappy, uneasy, or uncomfortable:

   miserable victims of war.

   Synonyms: distressed, doleful, disconsolate, forlorn

   Antonyms: happy

2. wretchedly poor; needy.

   Synonyms: destitute

   Antonyms: wealthy

3. of wretched character or quality; contemptible:

   a miserable villain.

   Synonyms: abject, low, mean, despicable

   Antonyms: good

4. attended with or causing misery:

   a miserable existence.

5. manifesting misery.
6. worthy of pity; deplorable:

   a miserable failure.

   Synonyms: lamentable, pitiable

miserable

/ ˈmɪzrə-; ˈmɪzərəbəl /

adjective

1. unhappy or depressed; wretched
2. causing misery, discomfort, etc

   a miserable life

3. contemptible

   a miserable villain

4. sordid or squalid

   miserable living conditions

5. mean; stingy
6. (pejorative intensifier)

   you miserable wretch

Derived Forms

• ˈmiserableness, noun
• ˈmiserably, adverb

Other Words From

• miser·a·ble·ness noun
• miser·a·bly adverb
• quasi-miser·a·ble adjective
• quasi-miser·a·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of miserable¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin miserābilis, equivalent to miserā(rī) “to pity” (derivative of miser “wretched”) + -bilis -ble

Word History and Origins

Origin of miserable¹

C16: from Old French, from Latin miserābilis worthy of pity, from miserārī to pity, from miser wretched

Synonym Study

See wretched.

Example Sentences

“I lived in New York for seven years, and in those seven years, the Yankees won the World Series four times. And I was miserable the whole time. That really just hardened my soul. My soul in this area is black and tarred over. I have no empathy. It’s the only place in my life where I feel really dark and evil.”

From Los Angeles Times

"Often in the media disabled people have miserable lives, we're just a sad story," she said.

From BBC

Californians of a certain age can recite it by heart: A 1994 ballot initiative sought to make life miserable for undocumented immigrants, with proponents claiming that unchecked migration was destroying the Golden State by burdening social services and changing the demographics of cities.

From Los Angeles Times

Billy Henri fears that the Mauritius government, which owns all land on Agalega and is the only employer, is trying to make conditions so miserable that everyone will leave.

From BBC

Last year's Rugby World Cup campaign ended in a miserable pool-stage exit.

From BBC

Related Words

• bad
• meager
• pathetic
• poor
• sad
• shameful
• sorry
• tragic
• wretched