miserable

adjective

mis·​er·​a·​ble

ˈmi-zər-bəl,

ˈmiz-rə-,

ˈmi-zə-rə- 

1

a

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

miserable refugees

b

: very sick

caught a cold and felt miserable

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

: very unsatisfactory, disappointing, or unpleasant

did a miserable job

a miserable, wet weekend

4

a

: being likely to discredit or shame

the miserable neglect of his family

had a miserable, snide contempt for our country

—Joyce Winslow

b

: deserving to be hated

a miserable tyrant

miserable noun

miserableness noun

miserably

ˈmi-zər-blē

ˈmiz-rə-

ˈmi-zə-rə- 

adverb

Synonyms of miserable

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

Zoning is not meant to be some sort of punishing thing meant to make a city miserable. —Kim Velsey, Curbed, 5 Nov. 2025

But George appeared in just 41 games due to injury, while Embiid played in just 19 games, and the Sixers sagged to a miserable 24-58 finish. —Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025

Among all of Apple’s achievements, one of the most underrated has been making driving less miserable. —Patrick George, The Atlantic, 3 Nov. 2025

Speaking of the Pacers, this is a miserable start. —Zach Harper, New York Times, 3 Nov. 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 1a

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