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

Fay Siu, who leads the Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident Victims, offered emotional support to families at the mortuary, where she said the atmosphere was "miserable and bleak".

Read more on Barron's

Suddenly all the miserable dates and failed relationships felt worth it because they led me to him.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

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

Related Words

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