miserable

mis·er·a·ble

adj
\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

see all synonyms and antonyms

[+]more[-]hide