miserable

mis·er·a·ble

adjective \ˈmi-zər-bəl, ˈmiz-rə-, ˈmi-zə-rə-\

Definition of MISERABLE

1

: being in a pitiable state of distress or unhappiness (as from want or shame) <miserable refugees>

2

a : wretchedly inadequate or meager <a miserable hovel>

b : causing extreme discomfort or unhappiness <a miserable situation>

3

: being likely to discredit or shame <his miserable neglect of his wife>

— miserable noun

— mis·er·a·ble·ness noun

— mis·er·a·bly \-blē\ adverb

Examples of MISERABLE

1. He had a miserable childhood.
2. My boss is making my life thoroughly miserable with her constant demands and criticism.
3. He felt lonely and miserable after his divorce.
4. I've had a miserable cold for the past week.
5. He lived in a miserable little shack.

Origin of MISERABLE

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin miserabilis wretched, pitiable, from miserari to pity, from miser

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to MISERABLE

Synonyms

black, bleak, cheerless, chill, Cimmerian, cloudy, cold, comfortless, dark, darkening, depressing, depressive, desolate, dire, disconsolate, dismal, drear, dreary, dreich [chiefly Scottish], elegiac (also elegiacal), forlorn, funereal, glum, godforsaken, gray (also grey), lonely, lonesome, lugubrious, gloomy, morbid, morose, murky, plutonian, saturnine, sepulchral, solemn, somber (or sombre), sullen, sunless, tenebrific, tenebrous, wretched

Antonyms

bright, cheerful, cheering, cheery, comforting, cordial, festive, friendly, gay, heartwarming, sunshiny

Related Words

blue, dejected, depressed, despondent, disconsolate, down, droopy, hangdog, inconsolable, low, melancholic, melancholy, mirthless, sad, unhappy, woebegone, woeful; dim, discomfiting, discouraging, disheartening, dismaying, dispiriting, distressful, distressing, upsetting; desperate, hopeless, pessimistic; lamentable, mournful, plaintive, sorrowful; colorless, drab, dull; dour, grim, lowering (also louring), lowery (also loury), menacing, negative, oppressive, threatening

Near Antonyms

blithe, blithesome, buoyant, gay, jocund, jolly, joyful, joyous, merry, mirthful; encouraging, hopeful, optimistic; lighthearted, lightsome