miserable

1 of 2

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

miserableness

2 of 2

noun

mis·​er·​a·​ble·​ness

plural -es

: the quality or state of being miserable

Synonyms of miserable

Adjective

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

Examples of miserable in a Sentence

Adjective

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

Adjective

The story of Superman’s young cousin never achieved liftoff, brought down by miserable reviews and a lack of familiarity with Krypton’s far less famous refugee. — Brent Lang, Variety, 16 July 2026

Spurs evolved from a side who did not press well and could not progress the ball through the middle of the pitch through Frank’s miserable period and Tudor’s hapless interlude, to a side who tried to do exactly those things. — Elias Burke, New York Times, 13 July 2026

May this child wind up miserable with nothing but her ridiculous pieces of headwear to keep her company. — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 11 July 2026

Their findings, some previously covered in Fortune, draw on a deep dataset spanning dozens of countries to confirm that ill-being is no longer hump-shaped in age — the young are now the most miserable cohort globally. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 6 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin miserabilis wretched, pitiable, from miserari to pity, from miser

First Known Use

Adjective

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