miserable
adjective
mis·er·a·ble 
ˈmi-zər-bəl,
ˈmiz-rə-,
ˈmi-zə-rə- 1
: being in a pitiable state of distress or unhappiness (as from want or shame)
miserable refugees
2
a
: wretchedly inadequate or meager (see meager sense 2)
a miserable hovel
b
: causing extreme discomfort or unhappiness
a miserable situation
miserable weather
his miserable childhood
3
: being likely to discredit or shame
his miserable neglect of his wife
had a miserable, snide contempt for our country—
Joyce Winslow
Joyce Winslow miserable noun
miserableness noun
miserably adverb
ˈmi-zər-blē
ˈmiz-rə-
ˈmi-zə-rə- 
Synonyms
- black
- bleak
- cheerless
- chill
- Cimmerian
- cloudy
- cold
- comfortless
- dark
- darkening
- depressing
- depressive
- desolate
- dire
- disconsolate
- dismal
- drear
- dreary
- dreich [chiefly Scottish]
- elegiac
- elegiacal
- forlorn
- funereal
- gloomy
- glum
- godforsaken
- gray
- grey
- lonely
- lonesome
- lugubrious
- morbid
- morose
- murky
- plutonian
- saturnine
- sepulchral
- solemn
- somber
- sombre
- sullen
- sunless
- tenebrific
- tenebrous
- wretched
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
He had a miserable childhood. My boss is making my life thoroughly miserable with her constant demands and criticism. He felt lonely and miserable after his divorce. I've had a miserable cold for the past week. He lived in a miserable little shack.
Recent Examples on the Web This comes as the South is struggling with a deadly ice storm that made road conditions miserable this week, claiming the lives of at least eight people in two states. —Alexandra Meeks, CNN, 3 Feb. 2023 In this new tale, a woman lives for absolute revenge against the school bullies who made her childhood miserable. —Jacob Siegal, BGR, 2 Jan. 2023 Dan Quinn’s unit produced four second-half turnovers and made life miserable for Matt Ryan once the Colts pulled within 21-19. —Dallas News, 4 Dec. 2022 Unions say the system has created miserable working conditions. —Peter Eavis, New York Times, 19 Sep. 2022 Migraine Relief Migraines can be absolutely miserable to deal with. —Dallas News, 12 Jan. 2023 The Lakers are still sub-. 500 after a miserable start to the season. —Chris Ilenstine, Chicago Tribune, 24 Dec. 2022 The finale ends with both looking pretty miserable. —Lauren Huff, EW.com, 21 Dec. 2022 Having to work all day and party with colleagues all night sounds pretty miserable. —Roxane Gay, New York Times, 14 Dec. 2022 See More
Alexandra Meeks, CNN, 3 Feb. 2023 In this new tale, a woman lives for absolute revenge against the school bullies who made her childhood miserable. —Jacob Siegal, BGR, 2 Jan. 2023 Dan Quinn’s unit produced four second-half turnovers and made life miserable for Matt Ryan once the Colts pulled within 21-19. —Dallas News, 4 Dec. 2022 Unions say the system has created miserable working conditions. —Peter Eavis, New York Times, 19 Sep. 2022 Migraine Relief Migraines can be absolutely miserable to deal with. —Dallas News, 12 Jan. 2023 The Lakers are still sub-. 500 after a miserable start to the season. —Chris Ilenstine, Chicago Tribune, 24 Dec. 2022 The finale ends with both looking pretty miserable. —Lauren Huff, EW.com, 21 Dec. 2022 Having to work all day and party with colleagues all night sounds pretty miserable. —Roxane Gay, New York Times, 14 Dec. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin miserabilis wretched, pitiable, from miserari to pity, from miser
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing miserable
Kids Definition
miserable
adjective mis·er·a·ble ˈmiz-ər-bəl
ˈmiz-(ə-)rə-bəl
1
a
: shabby in condition or quality
a miserable place to live
b
: causing great discomfort or unhappiness
a miserable cold
2
: extremely poor or unhappy : wretched
3
: pitiful sense 1, lamentable
miserableness noun
miserably
-blē
adverb miserable 1 of 2
adjective
1
as in bleak
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer spent the night in a miserable jail cell Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- bleak
- lonely
- depressive
- depressing
- dark
- desolate
- somber
- darkening
- cold
- lonesome
- wretched
- murky
- depressed
- morbid
- gray
- solemn
- cheerless
- sad
- dismal
- gloomy
- dreary
- morose
- glum
- black
- sullen
- godforsaken
- blue
- chill
- disconsolate
- dire
- comfortless
- oppressive
- forlorn
- unhappy
- lugubrious
- drear
- cloudy
- grey
- melancholy
- funereal
- saturnine
- sepulchral
- desperate
- hopeless
- plutonian
- sunless
- elegiac
- dreich
- dejected
- sombre
- tenebrous
- dull
- elegiacal
- woebegone
- woeful
- negative
- distressful
- discouraging
- mirthless
- inconsolable
- tenebrific
- grim
- despondent
- dispiriting
- upsetting
- mournful
- melancholic
- dim
- pessimistic
- droopy
- disheartening
- sorrowful
- dismaying
- hangdog
- distressing
- low
- down
- lamentable
- discomfiting
- drab
- menacing
- Cimmerian
- dour
- colorless
- threatening
- plaintive
- lowery
- lowering
- louring
- loury
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- cheerful
- cheery
- joyous
- bright
- joyful
- friendly
- festive
- merry
- jolly
- sunshiny
- gay
- comforting
- cordial
- optimistic
- gay
- buoyant
- mirthful
- hopeful
- blithe
- cheering
- encouraging
- heartwarming
- blithesome
- jocund
- lighthearted
- lightsome
2
as in unhappy
feeling unhappiness the awful news made us miserable Synonyms & Similar Words
- unhappy
- sad
- depressed
- heartbroken
- bad
- melancholy
- sorry
- upset
- worried
- hopeless
- wretched
- joyless
- sorrowful
- disappointed
- gloomy
- dejected
- uneasy
- troubled
- glum
- woebegone
- mournful
- woeful
- doleful
- disconsolate
- heartsick
- forlorn
- downhearted
- inconsolable
- downcast
- crestfallen
- depressing
- despondent
- melancholic
- brokenhearted
- saddened
- droopy
- suicidal
- hangdog
- down
- distressed
- blue
- low-spirited
- discouraged
- heavyhearted
- heartsore
- cast down
- low
- despairing
- bleak
- dispirited
- aggrieved
- tearful
- grieving
- sunk
- desolate
- disheartened
- regretful
- unquiet
- cheerless
- dismal
- down in the mouth
- dreary
- weeping
- lugubrious
- somber
- anguished
- morbid
- dolorous
- morose
- sullen
- agonized
- lachrymose
- dark
- comfortless
- drear
- gray
- plaintive
- wailing
- rueful
- darkening
- saturnine
- murky
- black
- funereal
- elegiac
- sombre
- grey
- elegiacal
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- happy
- joyous
- joyful
- blissful
- cheerful
- cheery
- sunny
- glad
- jubilant
- gleeful
- ecstatic
- upbeat
- merry
- euphoric
- jolly
- buoyant
- exuberant
- exultant
- rapturous
- jovial
- delighted
- overjoyed
- exhilarated
- elated
- optimistic
- enraptured
- buoyed
- excited
- mirthful
- chipper
- rosy
- rhapsodical
- hopeful
- blithesome
- rhapsodic
- blithe
- jocular
- jocose
- jocund
- entranced
- sanguine
- thrilled
- lightsome
- gladsome
- gladdened
- satisfied
- energetic
- spirited
- frisky
- smiling
- vital
- perky
- vivacious
- laughing
- careless
- content
- unconcerned
- peppy
- encouraged
- lively
- pleased
- carefree
- animated
- bouncing
- springy
- gratified
- sprightly
- jaunty
- grinning
- easygoing
- lighthearted
- zippy
- boon
- cavalier
- insouciant
- heartened
- beaming
- sprightful
- happy-go-lucky
- devil-may-care
3
as in terrible
of low quality a miserable meal that I wouldn't feed to a dog Synonyms & Similar Words
- terrible
- poor
- bad
- cheap
- inferior
- rotten
- wretched
- worthless
- coarse
- useless
- common
- mediocre
- lousy
- crappy
- bum
- shoddy
- rubbishy
- execrable
- junky
- trashy
- cheesy
- sleazy
- trumpery
- cheapjack
- gimcrack
- schlock
- fake
- low-rent
- counterfeit
- shlocky
- low-grade
- second-rate
- lackluster
- indifferent
- schlocky
- valueless
- cut-rate
- shlock
- bargain-basement
- tawdry
- el cheapo
- gaudy
- shabby
- meretricious
- garish
- showy
- tacky
- kitschy
- glitzy
- seedy
- ostentatious
- swank
- sham
- flashy
- kitsch
- second-class
- splashy
- brummagem
- phony
- swanky
- phoney
- ultracheap
- supercheap
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- good
- excellent
- fine
- superior
- handsome
- elegant
- first-class
- tasteful
- first-rate
- top-notch
- polished
- high-grade
- refined
- handcrafted
4
as in dilapidated
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect a miserable little apartment Synonyms & Similar Words
- dilapidated
- neglected
- tired
- desolate
- ruined
- dumpy
- abandoned
- shabby
- scruffy
- mangy
- ragged
- tacky
- tattered
- tatty
- seedy
- sleazy
- grungy
- ratty
- broken
- threadbare
- scrubby
- tumbledown
- godforsaken
- tatterdemalion
- down-at-the-heel
- wrecked
- down-at-heel
- mean
- run-down
- down-at-heels
- forlorn
- deteriorated
- bombed-out
- down-at-the-heels
- damaged
- decrepit
- beat-up
- deteriorating
- timeworn
- unkept
- dingy
- gone to seed
- dog-eared
- bedraggled
- destroyed
- hurt
- moth-eaten
- decaying
- ramshackle
- injured
- rickety
- broken-down
- rackety
- harmed
- impaired
- worn-out
- rattletrap
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- new
- fresh
- maintained
- spiffy
- brand-new
- smart
- mended
- kept-up
- rebuilt
- reconstructed
- patched
- cared-for
- spruce
5
as in pitiful
deserving of one's pity miserable refugees from the war-torn country Synonyms & Similar Words
- pitiful
- poor
- pathetic
- wretched
- sorry
- sad
- horrible
- pitiable
- terrible
- piteous
- heartbreaking
- awful
- disturbing
- deplorable
- lamentable
- regrettable
- rueful
- impressive
- emotional
- mournful
- affecting
- inspiring
- moving
- heartrending
- upsetting
- sorrowful
- distressing
- poignant
- touching
- stirring
- grievous
- woeful
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unimpressive
- uninspiring
6
as in pathetic
deserving pitying scorn (as for inadequacy) that ugly mutt is one miserable excuse for a dog Synonyms & Similar Words
- pathetic
- pitiful
- sad
- wretched
- lame
- disgusting
- pitiable
- contemptible
- despicable
- bad
- poor
- sorry
- shameful
- disgraceful
- deplorable
- abominable
- worthless
- hateful
- stinking
- notorious
- odious
- lousy
- shameful
- detestable
- ignominious
- disreputable
- abhorrent
- infamous
- unworthy
- discreditable
- beastly
- dishonorable
- sordid
- inferior
- shocking
- misbegotten
- scandalous
- unsavory
- meritless
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- decent
- admirable
- respectable
- excellent
- perfect
- worthy
- outstanding
- noticeable
- creditable
- meritorious
- notable
- noteworthy
- commendable
- praiseworthy
- presentable
- laudable
- noble
- honorable
- reputable
- straight
- honest
- redoubtable
- flawless
miserable
2 of 2noun
as in pauper
Synonyms & Similar Words
- pauper
- guttersnipe
- waif
- parasite
- dependent
- leech
- moocher
- bohemian
- urchin
- hanger-on
- hobo
- sponger
- sponge
- cadger
- beggar
- bludger
- drifter
- deadbeat
- clochard
- bum
- derelict
- vagabond
- mendicant
- tramp
- schnorrer
- idler
- panhandler
- vagrant
- ne'er-do-well