ˈmi-zər-bəl
1
as in bleak
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer
spent the night in a miserable jail cell
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unhappy
feeling unhappiness
the awful news made us miserable
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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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
Tim Grierson, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
Already picked up for a second season, Pluribus follows the most miserable person on Earth who must save the world from happiness.
—Lynette Rice, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2025
Here a miserable delivery boy gets by disposing of mummies recovered in Iquique, North of Chile.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 24 Sep. 2025
To top off his miserable season, Albies sustained a hamate bone fracture to his left hand in Monday night's game, according to a team announcement.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for miserable
Noun
This quality is on display in his portrayal of Frank, a 1950s husband who can’t figure out why his seemingly storybook life with beautiful wife April (Kate Winslet) has left him so miserable.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
Already picked up for a second season, Pluribus follows the most miserable person on Earth who must save the world from happiness.
—Lynette Rice, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2025
Here a miserable delivery boy gets by disposing of mummies recovered in Iquique, North of Chile.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 24 Sep. 2025
To top off his miserable season, Albies sustained a hamate bone fracture to his left hand in Monday night's game, according to a team announcement.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for miserable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for miserable
Adjective
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While there is still a chance that Sanders and Colorado can turn things around, the rest of the season is looking bleak.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
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From a bleak job hunt upon her arrival in 2016 to undergoing treatment for her second bout with breast cancer during the uncertainty and fear of COVID, Davis recalls her journey through raw vulnerability and splashes of humor.—
Essence,
Essence,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Smart, much like Georgia’s fan base, is pretty unhappy after yet another loss to Alabama.—
Seth Emerson,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
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While there are reasons to be unhappy with the performance, each win in the NFL is hard to get.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
That's a terrible average to bet your life on.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
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When his estranged daughter Sam tracks him down, in a last-ditch effort to dig her way out of serious trouble, Mickey must choose between rekindling his relationship with his daughter in the face of a terrible tragedy or pursuing a once-in-a-lifetime career opportunity.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The demolition of the former dilapidated Northridge Mall, which began last year, is finished.—
Hannah Kirby,
jsonline.com,
1 Oct. 2025
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The restaurant is the joint labor of love for couple Wessie and Tradd Newton, who have stewarded the location from a dilapidated structure into a local institution.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Similar protests occurred in Brazil over steep living costs and poor healthcare and education ahead of the country hosting the 2014 World Cup tournament.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
2 Oct. 2025
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Over time, dysfunctional breathing reinforces poor posture and scapular instability.—
Dana Santas,
CNN Money,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Characters can be pathetic, and frank about their Toledo Truth Teller’s bleak prospects.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
23 Sep. 2025
-
Jimmy Kimmel is a pathetic hate monger.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The woman was killed by one of Iblis’ masters, a pauper who dreamed of infinite wealth and attention.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
3 Oct. 2025
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The time-traveler received terrible, albeit false, news in Episode 6: A midwife who’d been paid to lie informed him that Julia and their baby had died during childbirth, their bodies thrown in a pauper’s grave.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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As gaming becomes a more mainstream activity, however, these stereotypes grow more archaic, and a new study from the Entertainment Software Association suggests that the universal image of a gamer as a lonely young male is not just outdated, but inaccurate.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
8 Oct. 2025
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His lonely white panel cap, the lucky charm the Jays wore for four-straight victories, sat alone on a cushioned chair.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Miserable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/miserable. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
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