wretch

noun

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\ ˈrech

Definition of wretch

1 : a miserable person : one who is profoundly unhappy or in great misfortune

2 : a base, despicable, or vile person

Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about wretch

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Examples of wretch in a Sentence

The poor wretch lost his job. the clerk was an ungrateful wretch who stole money from his employer's cash register

Recent Examples on the Web People tend to have a strong reaction to smells, and a present that makes its receiver wretch is no gift at all. — Eleanor Cummins, Popular Science, "Gifts that are smelly, but in a good way," 16 Dec. 2019 Ji Seong-ho is a street kid, a homeless kid, a wretch. — Jay Nordlinger, National Review, "Up from North Korea," 4 May 2020 Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. — USA Today, "On a socially distant Easter, the skies part just long enough," 14 Apr. 2020 Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. — Tyrone Beason / Columnist, The Seattle Times, "Total Experience Gospel Choir’s last days: Pat Wright built legacy with gusto of a freedom fighter," 1 Oct. 2018 While many superhero shows continue to traffic in one-dimensional super villains, the sophisticated dramas give us more ambiguous wretches. — Matthew Gilbert, BostonGlobe.com, "The best villains on TV," 6 July 2018 Smart security services may see, on smart video, that their populations get restive—but that doesn’t mean the wretches actually stop. — Bruce Sterling, The Atlantic, "Stop Saying 'Smart Cities'," 12 Feb. 2018 Amazing grace saved a wretch like him and ended slavery in Great Britain. — Anchorage Daily News, "Take heart, Alaskans, for the spirit of the season prevails," 23 Dec. 2017 Expose thyself to feel what wretches feel, that thou mayst shake the superflux to them, and show the heavens more just. — Alexandra Alter, New York Times, "Edward St. Aubyn on the Challenge of Reimagining Shakespeare," 28 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wretch.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for wretch

Middle English wrecche, going back to Old English wræcca, wrecce "exile, stranger, despicable person," going back to Germanic *wrakjan- "someone pursued, exile" (whence Old Saxon wrekkio "stranger," Old High German reccho, reccheo, recko "person banished, stranger"), noun derivative of *wrekan- "to pursue" — more at wreak

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