miserable

adjective

mis·​er·​a·​ble

ˈmi-zər-bəl,

ˈmiz-rə-,

ˈmi-zə-rə- 

1

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

miserable refugees

2

a

: wretchedly inadequate or meager (see meager sense 2)

a miserable hovel

b

: causing extreme discomfort or unhappiness

a miserable situation

miserable weather

his miserable childhood

3

: being likely to discredit or shame

his miserable neglect of his wife

had a miserable, snide contempt for our country

—Joyce Winslow

miserable noun

miserableness noun

miserably

ˈmi-zər-blē

ˈmiz-rə-

ˈmi-zə-rə- 

adverb

Synonyms

• bleak
• lonely
• depressing
• depressive
• dark
• somber
• desolate
• darkening
• cold
• lonesome
• murky
• wretched
• morbid
• grey
• depressed
• solemn
• gray

Examples of miserable in a Sentence

He had a miserable childhood.

My boss is making my life thoroughly miserable with her constant demands and criticism.

He felt lonely and miserable after his divorce.

I've had a miserable cold for the past week.

He lived in a miserable little shack.

Recent Examples on the Web

Boise State generally made life miserable for Layne, the Idaho Vandals transfer who followed his coach, Jason Eck, from Moscow to Albuquerque. —Jim Keyser, Idaho Statesman, 12 Oct. 2025

Brandon Marsh, who produced after a miserable April, looks more like a strong-side platoon corner outfielder than an everyday center fielder. —Matt Gelb, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025

But what leads to a miserable life tends to be universal and straightforward. —Big Think, 9 Oct. 2025

The upshot of this contempt is a season that layers hypocrisy as well as sanctimony over the grubby, tedious nihilism that made Dahmer so miserable to watch. —Judy Berman, Time, 6 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing miserable

• (as) miserable as sin

Kids Definition

miserable

adjective

mis·​er·​a·​ble ˈmiz-ər-bəl 

ˈmiz-(ə-)rə-bəl

1

a

: shabby in condition or quality

a miserable place to live

b

: causing great discomfort or unhappiness

a miserable cold

2

: extremely poor or unhappy : wretched

3

: pitiful sense 1, lamentable

miserableness noun

miserably

-blē 

adverb