wretched

1 of 2

adjective

wretch·​ed ˈre-chəd 

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

wretchedly adverb

wretchedness noun

wretchedness

2 of 2

noun

wretch·​ed·​ness

plural -es

: the quality or state of being wretched : distress or hardship that is caused especially by deprivation or affliction

Synonyms of wretched

Adjective

• terrible
• horrible
• poor
• awful

Examples of wretched in a Sentence

Adjective

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 on the Web

Adjective

Not one Wrexham player emerged with credit from a truly wretched performance, apart perhaps from goalkeeper Anthony Patterson, who prevented the margin of defeat being even larger with excellent saves to deny Jarrod Bowen and Manor Solomon. — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Those who care deeply about one aspect of something or another often take charge of their memory, not necessarily reflecting the wretched, real-time ambivalence of the original experience. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026

One of college football’s ugliest offseasons of wretched headlines is nearly over. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Aug. 2026

Disney World has unveiled new, delightfully dark details for two rides heading to its perfectly wretched Villains Land area set to open at the Magic Kingdom park. — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English wrecched, expansion (with -ed -ed entry 1) 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

Noun

Middle English wrecchednesse, from wrecched wretched + -nesse -ness

First Known Use

Adjective

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

wretched

adjective

wretch·​ed ˈrech-əd 

1

: very miserable or unhappy

2

: causing misery or distress

that wretched accident

3

: deserving of hatred or disgust

a wretched trick

4

: very poor in quality or ability

wretched work

wretchedly adverb

wretchedness noun