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

Other Word Forms

• miserableness noun
• miserably adverb
• quasi-miserable adjective
• quasi-miserably 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

He looked utterly miserable, sitting there like a man with a contagious disease.

Read more on BBC

After a first innings duck Joe Root was desperate for runs, but he was no match for the relentless Starc, dragging a thick edge onto his stumps to cap a miserable start to the series.

Read more on Barron's

Pretty much any sport can be fun, except golf, which was created in a rogue lab to make human beings miserable, especially me.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Skipper Stokes said they were starting with a clean slate, despite their miserable record in Australia.

Read more on Barron's

I know this sounds positively miserable to some of you.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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