Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for miserable

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

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


Discover More

Derived Forms

  • ˈmiserableness, noun
  • ˈmiserably, adverb
Discover More

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
Discover More

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
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of miserable1

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

Synonym Study

Discover More

Example Sentences

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

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.

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

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

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

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

Millions of children in India endure miserable and difficult lives.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


miserabilistmisère