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

Its four electric motors had a record-beating efficiency of 97%, far ahead of the miserable 27% of standard thermal engines.

From TechCrunch

It came rushing back, how miserable I was just hours before I unfurled my picnic blanket on the damp grass and we worked our way through the pleasantries of a first date.

From Eater

Hollye Kirkcaldy, director at Sparro House, a remote-working creative agency, attempted to return to work full-time after having her first child, but admitted the experience made her miserable.

From Digiday

I prayed and prayed the break would end and now that it has ended I feel even more miserable.

From Washington Post

Coming off a miserable 2020 season, United would have to ensure an adequate supporting cast.

From Washington Post

Despite being one of the most powerful men in the world, the king looks miserable.

From The Daily Beast

The young people in Girls are miserable, peevish, depressed, hate their bodies, themselves, their life, and each other.

From The Daily Beast

Like Donal, he requested to go to boarding school to escape his homelife; also like Donal, he was initially miserable there.

From The Daily Beast

Millions of children in India endure miserable and difficult lives.

From The Daily Beast

I was going along OK, but looking back, I was filled with anger and took it out on my first wife and made her life miserable.

From The Daily Beast

U was an Usurer, a miserable elf; V was a Vintner, who drank all himself.

From Project Gutenberg

Madame and myself had just been regretting that we should have to pass the evening in this miserable hole of a town.

From Project Gutenberg

Or, if I escaped these dangers for a day or two, what could I expect but a miserable death of cold and hunger?

From Project Gutenberg

All the miserable stratagems they had been guilty of to win him; the dishonest plotting and planning.

From Project Gutenberg

Eight weary years have passed, and we have reached a miserable day in the month of November.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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