misery

noun

mis·​ery ˈmi-zə-rē How to pronounce misery (audio)
ˈmiz-rē
plural miseries
1
: a state of suffering and want that is the result of poverty or affliction
War brought misery to thousands of refugees.
2
: a circumstance, thing, or place that causes suffering or discomfort
the joys and miseries of life
3
: a state of great unhappiness and emotional distress
My former boss made my life a misery.
Choose the Right Synonym for misery

distress, suffering, misery, agony mean the state of being in great trouble.

distress implies an external and usually temporary cause of great physical or mental strain and stress.

the hurricane put everyone in great distress

suffering implies conscious endurance of pain or distress.

the suffering of famine victims

misery stresses the unhappiness attending especially sickness, poverty, or loss.

some people live in misery every day

agony suggests pain too intense to be borne.

in agony over the death of their child

Examples of misery in a Sentence

The war brought misery to thousands of refugees. They were living in overcrowded slums in conditions of great misery. a source of human misery the joy and misery of life The last years of her life were a misery. Stop being such a misery.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Best Clothing Box Photograph: Stitch Fix Stitch Fix Kids Clothes Box $16 Stitch Fix As my kids have gotten older, shopping for their clothes has become a misery. Adrienne So, Wired News, 17 May 2025 The value of the Syrian currency plummeted during the civil war years, adding to the misery. Raja Abdulrahim, New York Times, 15 May 2025 Elvis, for example, couldn’t set foot outside Graceland in the light of day for fear of being mobbed and this brought him misery. Rick Mauch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2025 Wars, miseries, climate change, misogyny — our barbarism’s demons give us no respite. Rachel Handler, Vulture, 13 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for misery

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of misery was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Misery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misery. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

misery

noun
mis·​ery ˈmiz-(ə-)rē How to pronounce misery (audio)
plural miseries
1
: a state of great suffering and want due to poverty or misfortune
2
: a source of misery
3
: a state of unhappiness

More from Merriam-Webster on misery

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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