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
The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 26 May 2026
The New York Times Getting a filling at the dentist can be painful, expensive and generally miserable.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2026
Unfortunately, the politics of getting the United States on a sustainable track are miserable.
—Jared Bernstein, The Atlantic, 25 May 2026
Despite their drumbeats and piercing loud songs, Inter Miami got off to a miserable start on Sunday in a wild final game before the World Cup break.
—Miami Herald, 25 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for miserable
Adjective
But a miserable season is now over, and hopefully lessons will be learned for the future.
—The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 26 May 2026
The New York Times Getting a filling at the dentist can be painful, expensive and generally miserable.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2026
Unfortunately, the politics of getting the United States on a sustainable track are miserable.
—Jared Bernstein, The Atlantic, 25 May 2026
Despite their drumbeats and piercing loud songs, Inter Miami got off to a miserable start on Sunday in a wild final game before the World Cup break.
—Miami Herald, 25 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for miserable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for miserable
Adjective
-
For years, radical climate activists have painted a bleak view of the future.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
29 May 2026
-
The bleak, desolate masterpiece from 1989’s Pretty Hate Machine was used to great effect in 1995’s Natural Born Killers, the first film soundtrack produced by Reznor.—
Al Shipley,
SPIN,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
What’s leaving one unhappy child at home compared to sending five hundred people home from the theatre happy?—
Deborah Treisman,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
-
Shohei Ohtani almost became the most unhappy pitcher to ever be part of throwing a no-hitter.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
Mayor and Governor are terrible.—
Corky Siemaszko,
NBC news,
28 May 2026
-
From scandals, to corny tactics and platforms, to terrible analysis, this gubernatorial race has been a contest to forget.—
Matt Fleming,
Oc Register,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
The Urban Institute detailed in 2024 how declining government funding for public spaces had left many dilapidated and underutilized, or privatized and no longer free.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
26 May 2026
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Despite the dilapidated state, the couple fell in love with its ancient olive trees, a creek and a network of aqueducts winding through the fields.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
22 May 2026
Adjective
-
At this point the Red Sox are in serious danger, and the only reason the club is even within striking distance of a playoff spot is because the rest of the American League has been so poor.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
27 May 2026
-
Putumayo is one of Colombia’s poorest and most troubled regions.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
The plan involved discovering a long lost princess, hopping on a plane to London, breaking into a museum store room, and enlisting the help of a very pathetic historian.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 May 2026
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In our home, DC used a small, pathetic room meant for storage to pursue his hobbies.—
Marni Jameson,
Arkansas Online,
22 May 2026
Noun
-
Bournemouth are not a pauper club any more, but the performance this season has still be remarkable.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
25 May 2026
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The Titanic is still a subject of worldwide fascination, in part because of the range of passengers aboard the ship, from paupers to plutocrats.—
Jill Lawless,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Its trio, a lonely fox-deer, an axolotl apprentice healer and a red panda Viking, travel through a darkening natural world as the series folds identity, belonging and environmental crisis.—
Callum McLennan,
Variety,
1 June 2026
-
Brunson is hardly a lonely talent.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Miserable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/miserable. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.
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