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

They also allege the resort owners made their lives miserable in an attempt to drive them out and drive up the value of their property.

From Los Angeles Times

Watching “I Know This Much Is True” invites those of us keeping up with the latest TV releases to ponder how much prestige series productions worship tragedy – violent, miserable, and plain old funky.

From Salon

"When I wrote that song, I was really, really miserable," he says.

From BBC

It capped a miserable weekend overall for the Italian team, who watched both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc crash out of the race in separate incidents.

From BBC

Once again, here we are — August, staring down the end of another miserable season with the Angels circling the drain.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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