Dictionary.com

wretch

[ rech ]
/ rɛtʃ /
See synonyms for wretch on Thesaurus.com

noun

a deplorably unfortunate or unhappy person.
a person of despicable or base character.

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DISCOVER THE INFLUENCE OF PORTUGUESE ON ENGLISH VIA THIS QUIZ!

We’ve gathered some interesting words donated to English from Portuguese … as well as some that just don’t translate at all. Do you know what they mean?
Question 1 of 11
Which of the following animal names traces its immediate origin to Portuguese?
owl
crow
piranha
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Origin of wretch

before 900; Middle English wrecche,Old English wrecca exile, adventurer; cognate with German Recke warrior, hero, Old Norse rekkr man

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH wretch

retch, wretch

Words nearby wretch

wren-tit, wrest, wrestle, wrestling, wrest pin, wretch, wretched, Wrexham, wrick, wrier, wriest
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Words related to wretch

rascal, liar, poltroon, beggar, miscreant, dog, villain, pariah, vagabond, pauper, libertine, varlet, ingrate, brute, scoundrel, reprobate, rake, outcast, rogue, snake

Example sentences from the Web for wretch

British Dictionary definitions for wretch

wretch
/ (rɛtʃ) /

noun

a despicable person
a person pitied for his misfortune

Word Origin for wretch

Old English wrecca; related to Old Saxon wrekkeo, Old High German reccheo (German Recke warrior), Old Norse rek (n) ingr
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012