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

Rebounding from a miserable 2025 Hiring had rebounded this year from a lackluster 2025 in the face of the conflict in the Persian Gulf that has sent energy prices surging and put a strain on family budgets. — Josh Boak, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026

Some are hopeful that the implementation of the plan would alleviate their daily miserable existence and improve conditions. — Mkhaimar Abusada, The Conversation, 6 Aug. 2026

Without spoiling Gluck’s revised ending, Braun’s version at least understood that choosing someone because society insists your time is running out is a terrific way to trap yourself in a miserable future. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 Aug. 2026

The outgoing Titan 2 notched miserable scores of 1,013 on the single-core test and 3,145 on the multi-core test. — Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 3 Aug. 2026

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