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
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 And Wilde’s couple is miserable in a way only Americans can be. — Eliana Dockterman, Time, 26 June 2026 Despite concerns that the war in Iran would trip up an already wobbly labor market, hiring has picked up in recent months following a miserable 2025 that saw fewer than 200,000 job gains. — ABC News, 25 June 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
  • Last year, researchers at Harvard University and Baylor University discovered that, on average, young adults aged between 18 to 29 are deeply unhappy.
    — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 9 July 2026
  • Licensed cannabis operators in states that have legalized marijuana tend to support the ban—they’re unhappy that hemp intoxicants face far less regulation and taxation than their products.
    — Peter Su, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of unhappy
Adjective
  • With all the terrible news of layoffs and that the games industry is in a dire state, some people online have said a crash is the only way to fix things.
    — Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
  • With Te Fiti gone, a terrible darkness began slowly taking hold of the islands and their surrounding waters.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2026
Definition of terrible
Adjective
  • 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
  • After Will’s funeral, Alice retreats to her in-laws’ remote, dilapidated house, where, through the Necronomicon, a demonic spirit is unleashed and begins to turn the family members into Deadites.
    — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 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 Hollywood Bowl was by no means a lonely bowl Sunday night, as Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass returned to pack the storied venue for the first time in 59 years.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 7 July 2026
  • Through letters, Ulisses charms lonely women, bilking them of money and possessions.
    — Hamilton Cain, Time, 7 July 2026
Definition of lonely

Browse Nearby Words

miser
miserable
miserableness
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Cite this Entry

“Miserable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/miserable. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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