Synonyms of wretched

wretched

adjective

ˈre-chəd 

1

as in terrible

extremely unsatisfactory

this report is simply wretched—you'll have to rewrite it

Synonyms & Similar Words

• terrible
• horrible
• poor
• awful
• dismal
• bad
• atrocious
• rotten
• abysmal
• execrable
• lousy
• sucky
• defective
• miserable
• flawed
• inadequate
• shameful
• substandard
• contemptible
• inferior
• punk
• deficient
• worthless
• insufficient
• useless
• mediocre
• wanting
• abominable
• lacking
• faulty
• odious
• off
• damnable
• reprehensible
• vile
• low-grade
• valueless
• bum
• fiendish
• second-rate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• great
• wonderful
• marvelous
• excellent
• superior
• first-class
• exceptional
• prime
• bitchin'
• adequate
• sufficient
• choice
• premium
• first-rate
• satisfactory
• acceptable

2

as in pitiful

arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust

a wretched lie

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pitiful
• lame
• cheap
• dirty
• nasty
• disgusting
• hateful
• mean
• vile
• deplorable
• pitiable
• contemptible
• despicable
• sorry
• lousy
• grubby
• scabby
• scurvy
• paltry
• ratty
• sneaking
• loathsome
• abominable
• scummy
• cruddy
• odious
• detestable
• disgraceful
• shameful
• execrable
• revolting
• abhorrent
• repulsive
• repugnant
• ignominious
• disreputable
• squalid
• sordid
• ignoble
• discreditable
• shabby
• dishonorable
• condemnable
• craven
• reptilian
• reprehensible
• dastardly
• cowardly
• unscrupulous
• revulsive
• unprincipled
• base
• unethical
• low
• censurable
• reproachable
• blamable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• admirable
• praiseworthy
• laudable
• meritorious
• creditable
• commendable
• noble
• honorable
• honest
• redoubtable
• scrupulous
• upright
• good
• reputable
• virtuous
• moral
• principled
• righteous
• right
• ethical
• high-minded
• right-minded

3

as in bleak

causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer

lived alone in a wretched room in a run-down hotel

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bleak
• lonely
• dark
• depressing
• depressive
• desolate
• somber
• miserable
• solemn
• darkening
• murky
• lonesome
• cold
• morbid
• gray
• black
• blue
• dismal
• depressed
• cheerless
• sad
• dreary
• gloomy
• forlorn
• dire
• sullen
• lugubrious
• disconsolate
• morose
• funereal
• oppressive
• comfortless
• chill
• drear
• sepulchral
• glum
• saturnine
• godforsaken
• melancholy
• elegiac
• cloudy
• unhappy
• desperate
• woebegone
• hopeless
• dreich
• tenebrous
• woeful
• plutonian
• dull
• sunless
• Cimmerian
• dejected
• mournful
• tenebrific
• distressful
• mirthless
• negative
• inconsolable
• discouraging
• dim
• grim
• lamentable
• melancholic
• despondent
• distressing
• dispiriting
• dismaying
• upsetting
• sorrowful
• low
• droopy
• menacing
• disheartening
• pessimistic
• drab
• down
• hangdog
• plaintive
• discomfiting
• colorless
• dour
• threatening
• lowering
• lowery

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cheerful
• friendly
• bright
• gay
• cheery
• festive
• comforting
• joyous
• merry
• cordial
• sunshiny
• joyful
• jolly
• gay
• buoyant
• mirthful
• blithe
• optimistic
• hopeful
• encouraging
• cheering
• blithesome
• heartwarming
• jocund
• lighthearted
• lightsome

4

as in poor

falling short of a standard

a wretched attempt at writing an original song

Synonyms & Similar Words

• poor
• unacceptable
• lame
• wrong
• bad
• horrible
• awful
• terrible
• pathetic
• deficient
• disastrous
• dreadful
• flawed
• bastard
• unsatisfactory
• brutal
• crummy
• inferior
• substandard
• lousy
• sour
• suboptimal
• ill
• subpar
• from hunger
• lacking
• paltry
• inadequate
• rotten
• miserable
• wanting
• off
• dissatisfactory
• defective
• bush
• damnable
• useless
• punk
• detestable
• deplorable
• worthless
• vile
• unspeakable
• wack
• bush-league
• atrocious
• abysmal
• short
• gross
• execrable
• horrendous
• insufficient
• below par
• abominable
• stinky
• odious
• lesser
• egregious
• mediocre
• shoddy
• common
• crappy
• faulty
• sucky
• gnarly
• low-rent
• flagrant
• reprehensible
• low-grade
• bum
• second-rate
• trashy
• shabby
• meager
• valueless
• cheesy
• rubbishy
• coarse
• sleazy
• miserly
• bitchin'
• villainous
• scurrilous
• scanty
• skimpy
• stingy
• junky
• spare
• mean
• cut-rate
• sham
• fake
• phony
• counterfeit
• miscreant
• skimp

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• satisfactory
• acceptable
• adequate
• standard
• decent
• tolerable
• fine
• respectable
• all right
• great
• passable
• splendid
• excellent
• classical
• wonderful
• OK
• perfect
• classic
• noble
• superior
• better
• divine
• marvelous
• heavenly
• terrific
• prime
• special
• superb
• first-class
• stellar
• fabulous
• grand
• sufficient
• superlative
• sensational
• mean
• top
• neat
• dandy
• slick
• swell
• fancy
• exceptional
• choice
• banner
• sterling
• nifty
• average
• par excellence
• mediocre
• unsurpassed
• keen
• capital
• premium
• boss
• minimal
• suitable
• high-grade
• worthy
• useful
• fair
• middling
• borderline
• A1
• first-rate
• groovy
• supernal
• top-notch
• tip-top
• crackerjack
• high-test
• bang-up
• jim-dandy
• satisfying
• unexceptional
• gratifying
• so-so

5

as in unhappy

feeling unhappiness

she was wretched for weeks after breaking up with her boyfriend

Synonyms & Similar Words

• unhappy
• sad
• miserable
• depressed
• heartbroken
• bad
• melancholy
• sorry
• upset
• hopeless
• sorrowful
• worried
• woebegone
• mournful
• woeful
• troubled
• disappointed
• uneasy
• doleful
• joyless
• gloomy
• forlorn
• disconsolate
• dejected
• downcast
• crestfallen
• inconsolable
• heartsick
• glum
• melancholic
• despondent
• blue
• distressed
• hangdog
• brokenhearted
• depressing
• droopy
• saddened
• suicidal
• down
• low-spirited
• downhearted
• low
• down in the mouth
• heavyhearted
• discouraged
• heartsore
• despairing
• aggrieved
• cast down
• sunk
• tearful
• dispirited
• bleak
• unquiet
• grieving
• desolate
• weeping
• lugubrious
• dolorous
• anguished
• disheartened
• dismal
• lachrymose
• morbid
• regretful
• somber
• cheerless
• plaintive
• dreary
• agonized
• sullen
• wailing
• dark
• gray
• morose
• comfortless
• rueful
• drear
• saturnine
• black
• murky
• darkening
• elegiac
• funereal

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• joyous
• blissful
• happy
• joyful
• cheerful
• glad
• gleeful
• jubilant
• cheery
• buoyant
• sunny
• ecstatic
• merry
• exultant
• exuberant
• rapturous
• delighted
• jolly
• buoyed
• upbeat
• enraptured
• euphoric
• jovial
• mirthful
• chipper
• rhapsodic
• blithe
• excited
• optimistic
• rosy
• hopeful
• jocular
• jocose
• sanguine
• gladsome
• overjoyed
• elated
• exhilarated
• gladdened
• spirited
• vital
• blithesome
• jocund
• energetic
• entranced
• satisfied
• content
• animated
• vivacious
• lively
• smiling
• frisky
• perky
• lightsome
• sprightly
• laughing
• careless
• encouraged
• jaunty
• bouncing
• pleased
• springy
• peppy
• gratified
• thrilled
• unconcerned
• zippy
• carefree
• grinning
• cavalier
• boon
• insouciant
• easygoing
• lighthearted
• heartened
• sprightful
• beaming
• happy-go-lucky
• devil-may-care

6

as in vile

not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency

his wretched treatment of women earned him a bad reputation

Synonyms & Similar Words

• vile
• nasty
• dirty
• cruel
• immoral
• contemptible
• vicious
• detestable
• sordid
• ignoble
• bad
• ignominious
• execrable
• despicable
• corrupt
• dishonorable
• evil
• paltry
• low-down
• mean
• wicked
• snide
• currish
• low-minded
• base
• low
• wrong
• foul
• iniquitous
• depraved
• miscreant
• degenerate
• debased
• perverted
• reprehensible
• atrocious
• dissolute
• debauched
• shameful
• villainous
• disgraceful
• censurable
• unworthy
• blameworthy
• unscrupulous
• unprincipled
• blamable
• disreputable
• discreditable
• unethical

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• noble
• virtuous
• high
• honorable
• lofty
• venerable
• straight
• good
• righteous
• upright
• excellent
• moral
• honest
• ethical
• scrupulous
• just
• right
• proper
• exemplary
• decent
• principled
• respectable
• commendable
• high-minded
• reputable
• blameless
• right-minded
• guiltless
• seemly
• irreproachable
• incorruptible
• uncorrupted
• unerring

7

as in cheap

of low quality

wretched goods that aren't even worth half of what the store is charging for them

Synonyms & Similar Words

• poor
• terrible
• cheap
• inferior
• rotten
• bad
• coarse
• miserable
• common
• worthless
• useless
• mediocre
• execrable
• shoddy
• crappy
• rubbishy
• low-rent
• bum
• lousy
• low-grade
• second-rate
• trashy
• junky
• cheesy
• sleazy
• counterfeit
• cheapjack
• trumpery
• gimcrack
• fake
• schlock
• cut-rate
• bargain-basement
• valueless
• indifferent
• lackluster
• tawdry
• el cheapo
• second-class
• gaudy
• meretricious
• shabby
• garish
• showy
• kitschy
• seedy
• glitzy
• ostentatious
• swank
• tacky
• flashy
• kitsch
• sham
• splashy
• phony
• brummagem
• ultracheap
• supercheap

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• good
• excellent
• superior
• fine
• first-class
• high-grade
• handsome
• elegant
• first-rate
• top-notch
• tasteful
• polished
• refined
• handcrafted

8

as in pathetic

deserving of one's pity

those wretched souls who cannot even afford a decent roof over their heads

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pitiful
• poor
• pathetic
• miserable
• sorry
• pitiable
• piteous
• horrible
• sad
• terrible
• disturbing
• deplorable
• lamentable
• rueful
• awful
• impressive
• regrettable
• heartbreaking
• mournful
• emotional
• inspiring
• heartrending
• moving
• distressing
• poignant
• sorrowful
• touching
• stirring
• affecting
• grievous
• woeful
• upsetting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unimpressive
• uninspiring

9

as in miserable

deserving pitying scorn (as for inadequacy)

the pampered socialite complained that the only room available was in a wretched little motel by the highway

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pathetic
• pitiful
• miserable
• sad
• lame
• pitiable
• contemptible
• disgusting
• despicable
• bad
• poor
• sorry
• shameful
• disgraceful
• deplorable
• abominable
• notorious
• odious
• infamous
• disreputable
• hateful
• ignominious
• stinking
• detestable
• worthless
• discreditable
• abhorrent
• lousy
• unworthy
• beastly
• inferior
• misbegotten
• dishonorable
• sordid
• shocking
• scandalous
• unsavory
• meritless

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• decent
• respectable
• admirable
• worthy
• outstanding
• excellent
• notable
• meritorious
• perfect
• creditable
• commendable
• noteworthy
• noticeable
• laudable
• reputable
• praiseworthy
• presentable
• noble
• redoubtable
• honorable
• straight
• honest
• flawless

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of wretched

Disney World has unveiled new, delightfully dark details for two rides heading to its perfectly wretched Villains Land area set to open at the Magic Kingdom park. — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Aug. 2026

Hashimi’s tale of unflagging effort amid wretched inequality astounds. — Monitor Reviewers, Christian Science Monitor, 23 July 2026

Sixteen children from the same family who were rescued from a dilapidated home in rural Ohio were living in wretched conditions with human waste all around, confined to just one room over much of the past four years, authorities said. — CBS News, 1 July 2026

Portages can be wretched, slippery hellscapes of mud, bugs, and steep, rocky hills seemingly designed to inflict lower back pain. — John Bowe, Travel + Leisure, 11 June 2026