Miserable | Definition of miserable by Merriam-Webster

Full Definition of MISERABLE

1

: being in a pitiable state of distress or unhappiness (as from want or shame) <miserable refugees>

2

a : wretchedly inadequate or meager <a miserable hovel>

b : causing extreme discomfort or unhappiness <a miserable situation>

3

: being likely to discredit or shame <his miserable neglect of his wife>

— miserable noun

— mis·er·a·ble·ness noun

— mis·er·a·bly \-blē\ adverb

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Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin miserabilis wretched, pitiable, from miserari to pity, from miser

First Known Use: 15th century

Synonyms: black, bleak, cheerless, chill, Cimmerian, cloudy, cold, comfortless, dark, darkening, depressing, depressive, desolate, dire, disconsolate, dismal, drear, dreary, dreich [chiefly Scottish], elegiac (also elegiacal), forlorn, funereal, glum, godforsaken, gray (also grey), lonely, lonesome, lugubrious, gloomy, morbid, morose, murky, plutonian, saturnine, sepulchral, solemn, somber (or sombre), sullen, sunless, tenebrific, tenebrous, wretched

Antonyms: bright, cheerful, cheering, cheery, comforting, cordial, festive, friendly, gay, heartwarming, sunshiny

1

: very unhappy or distressed <The stranded passengers were miserable.>

2

: causing great discomfort <a miserable cold>

3

: very unsatisfactory <miserable weather>

— mis·er·a·bly \-blē\ adverb <We failed miserably.>

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