Entry Word: wretched

Function: adjective

Meaning: 1 extremely unsatisfactory <this paper is simply wretched—you'll have to rewrite it>

Synonyms atrocious, awful, execrable, lousy, punk, rotten, terrible

Related Words bad, deficient, inferior, off, poor, substandard, unsatisfactory, wanting; contemptible, miserable, shameful; defective, faulty, flawed; low-grade, mediocre, reprehensible, second-rate; bum, useless, valueless, worthless; inadequate, insufficient, lacking; abominable, odious, vile

Near Antonyms choice, excellent, exceptional, first-class, first-rate, premium, prime, superior; adequate, sufficient; acceptable, satisfactory

Antonyms great, marvelous (or marvellous), wonderful

2 arousing or deserving of oneʼs loathing and disgust <a wretched lie> — see contemptible 1
3 causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer <lived alone in a wretched room in a run-down hotel> — see gloomy 1
4 falling short of a standard <a wretched attempt at writing an original song> — see bad 1
5 feeling unhappiness <she was wretched for weeks after breaking up with her boyfriend> — see sad 1
6 not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency <his wretched treatment of women earned him a bad reputation> — see ignoble 2
7 of low quality <wretched goods that arenʼt even worth half of what the store is charging for them> — see cheap 2
8 deserving of one's pity <those wretched souls who cannot even afford a decent roof over their heads> — see pathetic 1