ˈmi-zər-bəl
1
as in bleak
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer
spent the night in a miserable jail cell
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unhappy
feeling unhappiness
the awful news made us miserable
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3
as in terrible
of low quality
a miserable meal that I wouldn't feed to a dog
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4
as in dilapidated
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect
a miserable little apartment
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5
as in poor
deserving of one's pity
miserable refugees from the war-torn country
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6
as in pathetic
deserving pitying scorn (as for inadequacy)
that ugly mutt is one miserable excuse for a dog
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of miserable
James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2025
On one of the most basic of human needs, access to a toilet outside the home, New York City gets pretty miserable marks.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 12 Apr. 2025
Politics Trump officials’ defiance over Abrego Garcia’s deportation is ‘shocking,’ appeals court says
April 17, 2025
His underlings ape his ghoulish glee in making life miserable for undocumented immigrants.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2025
Just 22 regulation wins, more than only the miserable Chicago Blackhawks (20) and San Jose Sharks (14)?
—Kevin Kurz, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for miserable
Adjective
Yet Ramsey’s toughest scene wasn’t fighting or swimming or being cold or miserable, but a deceptively simple shot from next week’s episode where Ellie weeps over the loss of Joel.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2025
On one of the most basic of human needs, access to a toilet outside the home, New York City gets pretty miserable marks.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 12 Apr. 2025
Politics Trump officials’ defiance over Abrego Garcia’s deportation is ‘shocking,’ appeals court says
April 17, 2025
His underlings ape his ghoulish glee in making life miserable for undocumented immigrants.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2025
Just 22 regulation wins, more than only the miserable Chicago Blackhawks (20) and San Jose Sharks (14)?
—Kevin Kurz, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for miserable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for miserable
Adjective
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This bleak vision of Hollywood makes for a fascinating backdrop.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
5 May 2025
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If Southampton fail to eke out a point on Saturday in the clash of the doomed, things look decidedly bleak.—
Tom Burrows,
New York Times,
3 May 2025
Adjective
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Kraft had strong leads among some voting groups polled, the poll showed, including Republicans, voters who disapprove of Boston’s sanctuary city status, those unhappy with Boston’s quality of life, and those prioritizing government spending/taxes.—
Grace Zokovitch,
Boston Herald,
1 May 2025
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Sonya can be competitive about who is more unhappy.—
Jason Zinoman,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Transgender kids, especially under the current president, are facing terrible rights losses and bigotry.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 May 2025
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Such legislation is meant to destabilize Pakistan’s internal politics, which is in no one’s interests, except those who promoted such a terrible idea in the first place.—
Christopher Shays,
New York Daily News,
10 May 2025
Adjective
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On the show Hill would buy dilapidated homes, fix them up and sell them for a profit.—
Jennifer Sangalang,
USA Today,
13 May 2025
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The manager of a dilapidated building called the Workers’ Cultural Palace gives a speech about his plans for the space.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
9 May 2025
Adjective
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Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns each added 23 points and OG Anunoby bounced back from two poor performances by scoring 20 for the Knicks, who can win the series Wednesday night at Boston.—
Brian Mahoney,
Baltimore Sun,
13 May 2025
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This results in a very poor Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 232.7% (against 21.5% for the S&P 500).—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
12 May 2025
Adjective
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No other governor, remember, has tried to pull off this pathetic budget stunt.—
Joe Soucheray,
Twin Cities,
10 May 2025
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In his last, most pathetic years, Mark Twain threw himself behind the crackpot theory that the true author of Shakespeare’s plays may have been Francis Bacon.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
9 May 2025
Noun
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Chelsea are hardly paupers domestically — no Premier League team is nowadays — but there’s a clear financial advantage in finishing higher up the table.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 2025
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In October 1911, Tarrant County commissioners agreed to assist Immigration Inspector E. R. Dilworth in keeping a sharp lookout for foreign paupers in the area.—
Richard J. Gonzales,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The report tracks a decline in social connections—especially among young people—and shows that half of adults are lonely, linking it to billions of dollars in health care costs.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
4 May 2025
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Ruth Buzzi, who was so hilarious as the lonely spinster Gladys Ormphby, the lady who swung her handbag as a lethal weapon, on Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In, has died.—
Mike Barnes,
HollywoodReporter,
2 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Miserable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/miserable. Accessed 18 May. 2025.
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