miserable 1 of 2

adjective

ˈmi-zər-bəl
Definition of miserablenext
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in terrible
of low quality a miserable meal that I wouldn't feed to a dog

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in dilapidated
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect a miserable little apartment

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

miserable

2 of 2

noun

as in pauper

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of miserable
Adjective
Girls who used to bully me and make my life miserable in high school keep DMing me, trying to get onto guest lists and into events. — Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 3 July 2026 Remarkably, La Roja have failed to win a knockout round match in their last three World Cups, but expect Lamine Yamal and company to end that miserable run today. — David Hickey, NBC news, 2 July 2026 But the American job market has chugged along, continuing to rebound from a miserable 2025. — Paul Wiseman, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026 Imagine walking off a plane, which is already a miserable experience, into THAT pack of wolves. — Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for miserable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for miserable
  1. bleak
  2. unhappy
  3. terrible
  4. dilapidated
  5. poor
  6. pathetic
  7. pauper
  8. lonely
Adjective
  • Outside of Duran’s efforts, though, the Rangers’ offense was bleak.
    — Cal Phillips Updated July 11, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 July 2026
  • Indeed, Brocka insists on escapist fantasies in a world that otherwise offers no escape, which, in my view, is more hopeful than bleak — and, in turn, allows this kind of gritty sensuality to persist in his ever-enduring, luminous cinema.
    — Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 10 July 2026
Definition of bleak
Adjective
  • Brigitte Bardot, a very unhappy wife, is the Penelope stand-in.
    — Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 14 July 2026
  • Given the players’ high-profile status, there is a giant spotlight on the process, with plenty of unhappy fans questioning why the SEC determined both moves were made for athletic purposes.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 July 2026
Definition of unhappy
Adjective
  • To sit still now would send a terrible message to a clubhouse full of pros, all of whom know the score.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 July 2026
  • Spieth decided the ball sitting on a steep slope and potentially on a terrible lie wasn’t playable.
    — Brody Miller, New York Times, 14 July 2026
Definition of terrible
Adjective
  • Its current chapter as a travel venue is helmed by the Greene family, who bought the property in 2000 and began to restore it from a dilapidated state.
    — Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 12 July 2026
  • Back at the dilapidated family home, Edgar grows even surlier, lashing into gentle-natured Joe for being an under-achiever compared to his brother and causing Thya to become apprehensive about Ed’s proximity to sharp objects.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2026
Definition of dilapidated
Adjective
  • Prolonged exposure to heat can lead to insufficient or poor sleep, compromising the immune system, increasing the risk for cardiovascular disease and diminishing cognitive performance.
    — Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026
  • On top of this, subterranean drip systems often clog with mineral deposits, sediment, and algae, which Nad warns may eventually require repairs or replacement of portions of the system, particularly in areas with hard water or poor filtration.
    — Kamron Sanders, The Spruce, 13 July 2026
Definition of poor
Adjective
  • Never in my lifetime has pathetic nostalgia for the white man’s republic been closer to the center of power.
    — Brian DeLay, Mercury News, 4 July 2026
  • Instagram Plus is social media’s newest low—a company preying on our most pathetic impulses, for the price of a small iced coffee.
    — Annie Joy Williams, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026
Definition of pathetic
Noun
  • Stock Chart IconStock chart icon Gold not glittering As for gold, while the yellow metal has traditionally been sought out by kings and paupers throughout history alike, the anaemic gold price has puzzled experts.
    — Lim Hui Jie,Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 3 July 2026
  • 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
Definition of pauper
Adjective
  • The film follows Gro (Ezeudu-Sterling), a lonely night-shift worker raised by vampires, who discovers she’s adopted and will never become one of them.
    — Jennie Punter, Variety, 14 July 2026
  • For a generation branded the loneliest generation, hiking clubs are becoming more than a workout.
    — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 July 2026
Definition of lonely

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miserable
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Cite this Entry

“Miserable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/miserable. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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