wretched

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adjective wretch·ed \ ˈre-chəd \

Updated on: 11 Sep 2017

Definition of wretched

1 :deeply afflicted, dejected, or distressed in body or mind

2 :extremely or deplorably bad or distressing

was in wretched health

a wretched accident

3 a :being or appearing mean, miserable, or contemptible

dressed in wretched old clothes

b :very poor in quality or ability :inferior

wretched workmanship

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wretchedly

adverb

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wretchedness

noun

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Examples of wretched in a Sentence

The slums were filled with poor, wretched children.
I don't know what's wrong with her, but she looks wretched.
families living in wretched poverty
the wretched conditions of the refugee camp
How did we get into this wretched state of affairs?
What a wretched performance that was.
That movie was positively wretched.

Recent Examples of wretched from the Web

On Jan. 27, the sun came out, and by early February the floodwaters had receded, leaving behind a wretched, stinking muck.

— andrew wolfson, The Courier-Journal, "There's hope for Houston in the story of Louisville's Great Flood of 1937," 28 Aug. 2017
There were reasons to believe the defense has a chance to fulfill its potential for improvement after last season’s wretched unit was dismantled.

— stephen holder, Indianapolis Star, "Insider: As Andrew Luck questions linger, Colts QBs struggle," 13 Aug. 2017
The bears, mainly Asiatic black bears and sun bears native the region, are often kept in wretched conditions and suffer a wide range of health problems.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "Vietnam Commits to Shut Down Bear Bile Farms," 22 July 2017
Cuba’s party scene became an infamous stage for tourism at its most exploitative and indulgent, a wretched and poisonous case of bloat.

— peter lewis, The Christian Science Monitor, "'Havana' probes the mysteries and magic of the Cuban capital," 5 July 2017
After 13 starts, Colón has compiled a wretched 8.14 ERA across 63 innings.

— jon tayler, SI.com, "Goodnight, sweet prince: The Braves have designated Bartolo Colón for assignment," 29 June 2017
Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

— kitty conley, Post-Tribune, "Scratching Post," 26 June 2017
All of this noise has obscured the indisputable reality that without readily available care, huge swaths of this country will endure an increasingly wretched existence in which their basic survival is called into question.

— lauren duca, Teen Vogue, "You Can't Debate Health Care If You're Dead," 23 June 2017
And no matter how wretched or tortured their situations, Klam makes sure that the portrait of male misery is a punchline rather than something to pity.

— The Cut, "9 Books We’re Reading This Month," 22 June 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of wretched

Middle English wrecched, expansion (with -ed ¹-ed) of wrecche, adjective, in same sense, going back to Old English wrecc, derivative from the base of wræcca, wrecce "exile, stranger, despicable person" — more at wretch-

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First Known Use: 12th century

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