miserable

adjective

mis·​er·​a·​ble
ˈmi-zər-bəl,
ˈmiz-rə-,
ˈmi-zə-rə- How to pronounce miserable (audio)
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 countryJoyce Winslow
miserable noun
miserableness noun
miserably
ˈmi-zər-blē
ˈmiz-rə-
ˈmi-zə-rə- How to pronounce miserable (audio)
adverb

Examples of miserable in a Sentence

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
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.
Its economic position is parlous, its demographic situation is miserable and its military capacities have atrophied, and most of the chest-thumping about a revival of European power is empty talk and fantasy politics. Ross Douthat, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2025 But running — the exercise that can happen almost anywhere, any time and for very little expense — always felt miserable. Madeline Holcombe, CNN, 2 Mar. 2025 The 20 countries that are most miserable in 2024 are roughly the same rogue’s gallery as in 2023. Steve H. Hanke, National Review, 27 Feb. 2025 Oh, Mary! follows the miserable, suffocated Mary Todd Lincoln in the weeks leading up to Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. Dave Quinn, People.com, 25 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for miserable

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of miserable was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Miserable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/miserable. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

miserable

adjective
mis·​er·​a·​ble ˈmiz-ər-bəl How to pronounce miserable (audio)
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
miserableness noun
miserably adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on miserable

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