miserable
Americanadjective
-
wretchedly unhappy, uneasy, or uncomfortable.
miserable victims of war.
- Synonyms:
- distressed, doleful, disconsolate, forlorn
- Antonyms:
- happy
-
wretchedly poor; needy.
- Synonyms:
- destitute
- Antonyms:
- wealthy
-
of wretched character or quality; contemptible.
a miserable villain.
- Synonyms:
- abject, low, mean, despicable
- Antonyms:
- good
-
attended with or causing misery.
a miserable existence.
-
manifesting misery.
-
worthy of pity; deplorable.
a miserable failure.
- Synonyms:
- lamentable, pitiable
adjective
-
unhappy or depressed; wretched
-
causing misery, discomfort, etc
a miserable life
-
contemptible
a miserable villain
-
sordid or squalid
miserable living conditions
-
mean; stingy
-
(pejorative intensifier)
you miserable wretch
Related Words
See wretched.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of miserable
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin miserābilis, equivalent to miserā(rī) “to pity” (derivative of miser “wretched”) + -bilis -ble
Explanation
Miserable goes way beyond sad — it means absolutely wretched. Someone who's miserable feels absolutely awful. If you were caught in the pouring rain, missed your own birthday party, and then got food poisoning, you wouldn't just feel bad. You'd be miserable — which means exceptionally unhappy. Victor Hugo's novel, Les Miserables ("The Miserable Ones"), is the story of people who live a wretched life filled with death and unhappiness. You might want to bring some tissues if you're heading to the musical!
Vocabulary lists containing miserable
"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 1–6
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Curmudgeon, Cantankerous and Churlish: Grouchy Words
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Charlotte's Web
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Driving to, in, and out of Brooklyn during rush hour is a truly miserable experience.
From Barron's • May 3, 2026
Elliot: Yeah, because the lads were saying: 'Maybe people think you're quite miserable'.
From BBC • May 2, 2026
The New York Jets and Giants are both coming off of utterly miserable seasons.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026
But he had two miserable seasons there, giving up more than 3½ goals a game, before being traded to Boston, where he did little better.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026
She was tidier than this as a rule, but she may have had a miserable time in the first-class dining saloon.
From "Secrets at Sea" by Richard Peck
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
