Synonym Chooser

How does the noun misery differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of misery are agony, distress, and suffering. While all these words mean "the state of being in great trouble," misery stresses the unhappiness attending especially sickness, poverty, or loss.

the homeless live with misery every day

When could agony be used to replace misery?

The synonyms agony and misery are sometimes interchangeable, but agony suggests pain too intense to be borne.

in agony over the death of their child

When is it sensible to use distress instead of misery?

The meanings of distress and misery largely overlap; however, distress implies an external and usually temporary cause of great physical or mental strain and stress.

the hurricane put everyone in great distress

When is suffering a more appropriate choice than misery?

The words suffering and misery are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, suffering implies conscious endurance of pain or distress.

the suffering of famine victims

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of misery Metzler did a wonderful job blending misery and mirth in Maid, a series that was an often-downbeat class critique in which bursts of satire worked as a release valve. Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2025 In a season full of misery and a historic number of losses, there was plenty of reason to celebrate Colorado’s first walk-off win. Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 12 June 2025 Greta’s missed opportunity to understand the deep roots of this misery is another lesson lost to the world. Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 11 June 2025 To that end, Tatis works to pull himself from his misery to celebrate big moments in games. Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for misery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misery
Noun
  • But playing with an already-strained right calf, the Oshkosh, Wis., native stepped awkwardly towards the basket and crumbled to the court in agony when his leg appeared to pop.
    Sean Neumann, People.com, 24 June 2025
  • Finding alternatives that would end this agony would be one of American science’s most important achievements.
    Rachel Fobar, Vox, 14 May 2025
Noun
  • Buildings continue to fall into economic distress because of government’s housing policies.
    Alva Badillo, New York Daily News, 29 June 2025
  • In line with these ideas, researchers published findings in 2023 that showed that meditation increased people’s concern for the suffering of others—and that, by comparison, people without this practice were more oriented to their own distress.
    Mariah G. Schug, Scientific American, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • For centuries, folklore and popular wisdom have linked poor eating habits and indigestion to nightmares and restless sleep.
    Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 1 July 2025
  • None of this is meant to prompt nightmares of seventh grade civics class, raise doubts about one’s ability to pass a citizenship test, or question the arrangements for Friday’s barbeque.
    Michael Peregrine, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • The class encompasses information about exercises to prepare the mother for birth, relaxation and coping techniques, pain control options, labor positioning, induction and C-section basics, recovery and welcoming baby.
    Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 June 2025
  • Castor oil packs are a popular home remedy used to support pain relief, digestion, lymphatic flow, and skin health.
    Lindsay Curtis, Health, 25 June 2025
Noun
  • There have been reports of human rights violations, including torture and forced confessions at the facility.
    Somayeh Malekian, ABC News, 24 June 2025
  • Washington — The Supreme Court on Monday lifted a lower court order that prevented the Trump administration from deporting migrants to countries that are not their places of origin without first giving them the chance to raise fears of torture, persecution or death.
    June 23, CBS News, 23 June 2025
Noun
  • Drawing heavily from Qiu’s biography, My Father’s Son centers on an 18-year-old protagonist, Qiao, who loses his voice while attempting to deliver the eulogy at his father’s funeral and flees in anguish.
    Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 19 June 2025
  • Many of us watch in anguish as our compatriots abandon their homes, desperate for a safe haven beyond the reach of oppression and destruction.
    Nazanin Boniadi, Time, 17 June 2025
Noun
  • Her post-Sisterhood career has featured roles in horror flicks (The Grudge 2), cringe comedies (The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret), medical dramas (House), and sitcoms (Two and a Half Men).
    EW.com, EW.com, 28 June 2025
  • The quiet horror is that even 20 years later, the fence has not disappeared.
    Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • Other potentially irritating ingredients include fermentable fibers like inulin and carrageenan, gums and thickeners like xanthan gum, and sugar alcohols that can produce gas as a byproduct and trigger stomach discomfort, Sharp says.
    Sonya Collins, Fortune, 25 June 2025
  • Both require flexibility and patience, and sometimes dealing with the discomfort of bad weather, insects, heavy backpacks, malfunctioning equipment, and even boredom.
    Sarah Boon June 25, Literary Hub, 25 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Misery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misery. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

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