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

That was pointed out during Chipotle’s earnings report, which showed miserable results at the end of October. —Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025

Caesar and Coca were soon joined on the show by the diminutive Howard Morris, whom Caesar could hoist from the ground and glare at face to face, and by Carl Reiner, tall like Caesar but as happy as Sid was miserable—the ideal second banana. —David Denby, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025

The Mavericks have stumbled to a miserable 3-7 season start, with their backcourt depth problems compounded by general floor-spacing roster deficits. —Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025

Does a lack of style make supporters miserable? —Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 10 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