Synonyms of wretched

wretched

adjective

ˈre-chəd 

1

as in horrible

extremely unsatisfactory

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• great
• wonderful
• marvellous
• marvelous
• excellent
• superior
• prime
• exceptional
• first-class
• 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
• depressive
• depressing
• desolate
• somber
• darkening
• miserable
• murky
• lonesome
• cold
• morbid
• grey
• gray
• solemn
• black
• blue
• dismal
• depressed
• cheerless
• sad
• dreary
• gloomy
• forlorn
• dire
• sullen
• lugubrious
• disconsolate
• morose
• sombre
• oppressive
• comfortless
• chill
• funereal
• drear
• sepulchral
• glum
• saturnine
• godforsaken
• melancholy
• elegiac
• cloudy
• tenebrous
• unhappy
• desperate
• hopeless
• woebegone
• dreich
• elegiacal
• plutonian
• woeful
• sunless
• dull
• Cimmerian
• dejected
• tenebrific
• distressful
• negative
• mirthless
• mournful
• inconsolable
• grim
• dim
• discouraging
• melancholic
• lamentable
• despondent
• dispiriting
• distressing
• dismaying
• hangdog
• upsetting
• low
• sorrowful
• menacing
• droopy
• discomfiting
• disheartening
• pessimistic
• drab
• down
• plaintive
• colorless
• dour
• threatening
• lowering
• louring
• loury
• 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
• awful
• horrible
• terrible
• pathetic
• deficient
• disastrous
• dreadful
• flawed
• bastard
• unsatisfactory
• brutal
• crummy
• substandard
• sour
• inferior
• lousy
• suboptimal
• ill
• subpar
• rotten
• from hunger
• miserable
• paltry
• lacking
• crumby
• inadequate
• wanting
• off
• defective
• dissatisfactory
• bush
• useless
• damnable
• punk
• worthless
• detestable
• vile
• deplorable
• abysmal
• short
• under par
• gross
• unspeakable
• bush-league
• wack
• atrocious
• execrable
• horrendous
• below par
• abominable
• stinky
• insufficient
• odious
• lesser
• egregious
• mediocre
• common
• shoddy
• crappy
• faulty
• sucky
• gnarly
• low-rent
• flagrant
• reprehensible
• low-grade
• bum
• second-rate
• trashy
• shabby
• meager
• meagre
• valueless
• cheesy
• rubbishy
• coarse
• sleazy
• miserly
• bitchin'
• villainous
• scurrilous
• scanty
• skimpy
• stingy
• junky
• spare
• miscreant
• mean
• cut-rate
• niggardly
• sham
• fake
• phoney
• phony
• counterfeit
• skimp

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• satisfactory
• acceptable
• adequate
• standard
• decent
• tolerable
• fine
• respectable
• all right
• okay
• great
• passable
• splendid
• excellent
• classical
• wonderful
• OK
• perfect
• classic
• noble
• superior
• better
• divine
• marvellous
• 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
• troubled
• woeful
• disappointed
• uneasy
• doleful
• joyless
• gloomy
• forlorn
• disconsolate
• dejected
• downcast
• crestfallen
• inconsolable
• heartsick
• glum
• melancholic
• blue
• despondent
• distressed
• hangdog
• depressing
• brokenhearted
• droopy
• saddened
• suicidal
• down
• low-spirited
• downhearted
• low
• down in the mouth
• heavyhearted
• discouraged
• heartsore
• despairing
• cast down
• aggrieved
• sunk
• tearful
• dispirited
• bleak
• grieving
• unquiet
• desolate
• weeping
• lugubrious
• dolorous
• anguished
• disheartened
• morbid
• dismal
• lachrymose
• regretful
• somber
• cheerless
• plaintive
• dreary
• grey
• agonized
• sullen
• dark
• wailing
• gray
• morose
• sombre
• comfortless
• rueful
• drear
• black
• saturnine
• murky
• darkening
• elegiac
• funereal
• elegiacal

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
• rhapsodic
• chipper
• blithe
• excited
• optimistic
• rosy
• hopeful
• jocular
• jocose
• jocund
• rhapsodical
• sanguine
• gladsome
• overjoyed
• elated
• exhilarated
• gladdened
• spirited
• vital
• blithesome
• energetic
• entranced
• satisfied
• content
• animated
• vivacious
• lively
• smiling
• frisky
• perky
• lightsome
• sprightly
• laughing
• encouraged
• careless
• jaunty
• bouncing
• pleased
• springy
• peppy
• gratified
• unconcerned
• thrilled
• zippy
• carefree
• grinning
• cavalier
• boon
• insouciant
• easygoing
• lighthearted
• heartened
• beaming
• sprightful
• 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 terrible

of low quality

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Examples of wretched in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Bogaerts, the team’s $280-million signing two offseasons ago, might have had the biggest second-half turnaround, rebounding from a wretched first half — his OPS was under .600 through July 21 — by hitting .291 over his final 59 games. —Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2024

Chris is beautiful and popular, unlike the reclusive, strange Carrie; telekinesis or not, no one wants to be wretched Carrie. —Rafaela Bassili, The Atlantic, 18 Sep. 2024

This quirky delight concerns the wretched lives of 1970s Australian twins — Grace (Sarah Snook) and Gilbert (Kodi Smit-McPhee). —Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 1 Oct. 2024

And does it not, in some way, infringe upon, or cheapen, this moment in Fellowship when apparently Galadriel was saying the same thing several thousand years earlier to a wretched clutch of goblins? —Erik Kain, Forbes, 6 Sep. 2024