wretched

[ rech-id ]

adjective

, wretch·ed·er, wretch·ed·est.

1. very unfortunate in condition or circumstances; miserable; pitiable.

   Synonyms: unhappy, forlorn, woebegone, woeful, distressed, dejected

2. characterized by or attended with misery and sorrow.
3. despicable, contemptible, or mean:

   a wretched miser.

   Synonyms: vile, base

4. poor, sorry, or pitiful; worthless:

   a wretched job of sewing.

wretched

/ ˈrɛtʃɪd /

adjective

1. in poor or pitiful circumstances
2. characterized by or causing misery
3. despicable; base
4. poor, inferior, or paltry
5. prenominal (intensifier qualifying something undesirable)

   a wretched nuisance

Derived Forms

• ˈwretchedly, adverb
• ˈwretchedness, noun

Other Words From

• wretched·ly adverb
• wretched·ness noun
• un·wretched adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of wretched¹

First recorded in 1150–1200, wretched is from the Middle English word wrecchede. See wretch, -ed ³

Synonym Study

Wretched, miserable, sorry refer to that which is unhappy, afflicted, or distressed. Wretched refers to a condition of extreme affliction or distress, especially as outwardly apparent: wretched hovels. Miserable refers more to the inward feeling of unhappiness or distress: a miserable life. Sorry applies to distressed, often poverty-stricken outward circumstances; but it has connotations of unworthiness, incongruousness, or the like, so that the beholder feels more contempt than pity: in a sorry plight.

Example Sentences

"Because I felt so wretched and awful in myself."

From BBC

After all, the Dutchman had presided over a wretched start to this Premier League campaign, despite the club spending more than half a billion pounds on signing players since Ten Hag's arrival two years ago.

From BBC

Despite their wretched run, Pakistan look stronger on paper than they did then.

From BBC

After a wretched start to this term, the team lie joint-bottom of the Premier League table with just one point from their opening five games.

From BBC

A freeze frame of a frozen-faced Biden — taken from his wretched debate performance — loomed from the big screen in the convention hall like a geriatric gargoyle.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abject
• deplorable
• depressed
• despicable
• forlorn
• gloomy
• hopeless
• miserable
• pathetic
• pitiful
• tragic
• woeful