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

People seeking asylum are housed in "miserable" conditions while "millions in public money… is simply taken in profit by a handful of private companies", says the letter.

From BBC

They are comrades in torture, stimulated by the idea of making others miserable, so when given the choice to return to the real world, Yaba instead decides to remain a Borderland citizen.

From Salon

“You’re making life for Jews miserable and life for American Jews impossible.”

From Los Angeles Times

France themselves have lost their past 16 matches against England, a miserable record that stretches back more than seven years.

From BBC

Nine painful runs, in four miserable innings of Dodgers relief.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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