1
as in horrible
extremely unsatisfactory
this report is simply wretched—you'll have to rewrite it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pitiful
arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust
a wretched lie
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in poor
falling short of a standard
a wretched attempt at writing an original song
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in unhappy
feeling unhappiness
she was wretched for weeks after breaking up with her boyfriend
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in terrible
of low quality
wretched goods that aren't even worth half of what the store is charging for them
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 wretched
Tell me the wretched truth about America, because that speaks to our greatness.
—
Dominic Patten, Deadline, 1 Apr. 2025
The longtime Red Sox pitcher and current NESN analyst unloaded on Devers after his wretched season-opening series against the Rangers.
—Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2025
The ones who weren’t downright frauds were only cracked and wretched old women with delusions.
—Charles Portis, Harper's Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
In a year when the Amy Winehouse movie Back to Black showed just how wretched musical biopics can sometimes be, most critics and ticket-buyers seem pleased with James Mangold’s look at Bob Dylan’s early years in A Complete Unknown.
—Jordan Hoffman, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for wretched
Dominic Patten, Deadline, 1 Apr. 2025
The longtime Red Sox pitcher and current NESN analyst unloaded on Devers after his wretched season-opening series against the Rangers.
—Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2025
The ones who weren’t downright frauds were only cracked and wretched old women with delusions.
—Charles Portis, Harper's Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
In a year when the Amy Winehouse movie Back to Black showed just how wretched musical biopics can sometimes be, most critics and ticket-buyers seem pleased with James Mangold’s look at Bob Dylan’s early years in A Complete Unknown.
—Jordan Hoffman, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for wretched
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wretched
Adjective
-
Wade has been in a horrible slump since the season started and going in to Saturday night’s game against the Los Angeles Angels is hitting .096 (5-for-52) with a homer, seven RBIs, eight walks and an on base percentage of .213.—
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
19 Apr. 2025
-
The Braves desperately need to add a shortstop and some offensive help amid their horrible start to the season.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
So many of the latter comes thanks to Niecy Nash’s Nurse DiDi, who seems to take the time to see her patients as worthwhile much more often than her cohorts, the self-important Dr. Jenna James (Laurie Metcalf) and pitiful nurse Dawn (Alex Borstein).—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
21 Apr. 2025
-
Look, everyone points to injuries as the reason for the pitiful performance so far this season, but a lot of teams are dealing with injuries.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The observations from Drewry’s and Moody’s, as well as the scenario floated by McCown, follow a bleak outlook for the middle of May out of the biggest port in the U.S.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Complicating matters further is a bleak hydrological outlook.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Consumer spending softened, increasing 1.8%, down from a 4% rise in the fourth quarter, but a decent performance in light of stock market turmoil and poor weather early in the quarter.—
Paul Davidson,
USA Today,
1 May 2025
-
In addition, preliminary research from the National Bureau of Economic Research estimates that poor mental health may cost the U.S. economy nearly $300 billion annually.—
Dilan Gomih,
Forbes.com,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Particularly now that Americans are unhappy with the state of economy.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Apr. 2025
-
Some 59% of voters are unhappy with how things are going in the country.—
Dana Blanton,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The imitation Punisher logo on Cole’s bullet was no act of flattery, but the most vile of insults.—
Proma Khosla,
IndieWire,
16 Apr. 2025
-
Fans, some of them little kids parroting what their parents were saying, called him vile names.—
Houston Mitchell,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
United have fallen massively and it’s been a terrible watch all season, bar a couple of highs.—
Andy Mitten,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2025
-
Public interest in the film intensified after a stroke of terrible happenstance.—
Jelani Cobb,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Read more The pathetic, slow-motion downfall of Barack Obama Houseguests and fish begin to smell after three days, as the saying goes.—
Aris Folley,
The Hill,
17 Apr. 2025
-
Writing the most unbridled, impolite, unreasonable, pathetic rant that gives voice to unseen, unheard parts of you opens a relief valve that transfers emotional pain onto the page.—
Jessica DuLong,
CNN Money,
11 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wretched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wretched. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share