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
Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 6 June 2026
The Angels thumped the Colorado Rockies 11-4, but one good night cannot change the trajectory of a miserable season.
—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
The absence of Alonso (or any true power bat) hasn’t been the full story of Boston’s miserable 25-34 start to the season, nor is his presence in Baltimore the full story of their slightly better 29-32 beginnings.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 3 June 2026
If you’re obsessed and determined to be poor and miserable, then stay and fight for your place in the sun.
—Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for miserable
Adjective
The sea was rough, windy, and miserable.
—Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 6 June 2026
The Angels thumped the Colorado Rockies 11-4, but one good night cannot change the trajectory of a miserable season.
—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
The absence of Alonso (or any true power bat) hasn’t been the full story of Boston’s miserable 25-34 start to the season, nor is his presence in Baltimore the full story of their slightly better 29-32 beginnings.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 3 June 2026
If you’re obsessed and determined to be poor and miserable, then stay and fight for your place in the sun.
—Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for miserable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for miserable
Adjective
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In Meetings, Merlin sat agitated with a folder of newspaper clippings in his lap, occasionally shedding bleak confetti.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Aug. 2025
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On paper, business over the next few weeks looks bleak.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The European Commission froze billions of euros in funds for Hungary in response to democratic backsliding led by Orbán, and concern lingers about the damage that can be done when one unhappy government insists on wielding its veto.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 June 2026
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Social media is making children unhappy and is designed to be addictive, Starmer said at a press conference.—
Elsa Ohlen,
CNBC,
15 June 2026
Adjective
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In 2012, a powerful quake visited terrible damage on the city of Modena, Bottura’s home and host to his restaurant.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
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The letter writer’s cousin has cancer, and the chemo gives her terrible side effects.—
Eric Thomas,
Sun Sentinel,
11 June 2026
Adjective
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Buck Island offered to sell the dilapidated unit to Brown for $1,000, funded partially with her security deposit.—
Gretchen Morgenson,
NBC news,
10 June 2026
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Here cavernous sheet-metal market halls rub shoulders with dilapidated clapboard stores.—
Duncan Madden,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Adjective
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If poor flowering persists year after year, consider planting a different variety of tomatoes that better suits your climate.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
16 June 2026
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The only question now is how much of the public's time and money the Mayor is willing to waste to obscure the numerous poor decisions her administration and the County have made for decades.—
Manuel Bojorquez,
CBS News,
16 June 2026
Adjective
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Sports make people a little pathetic.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
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Williams didn't portray Peter Banning as pathetic.—
Cynthia Pelayo,
PEOPLE,
8 June 2026
Noun
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Tate eventually moved in with her family, who rejected Austen; Austen moved to the Staten Island Farm Colony, a pauper’s hospital.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
22 Nov. 2025
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Brian Niccol, the coffee chain boss, is paid a pauper’s sum of nearly $100 million.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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House is a major character in the New Vegas game; not a lonely guy, Theroux insists, but one perfectly happy being alone with his thoughts.—
The Deadline Team,
Deadline,
10 June 2026
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KillsEnemy's road to recovery was long and lonely.—
Libby Smith,
CBS News,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Miserable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/miserable. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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