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

Perhaps no one in Los Angeles is as driven to win as Cronin, who has mused about sleepless nights and the miserable existence associated with losing. —Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026

Now, creaking-old Rodgers faces a really good Houston D that will make his night miserable. —Greg Cote january 8, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2026

On a tour full of reasons to be miserable, England will leave Australia with at least one ray of light for the future. —Tim Spiers, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026

The series centers around Timmy Turner, a miserable 10-year-old whose life improves significantly after he is given two fairy godparents named Wanda and Cosmo. —Will Harris, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Jan. 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