miserable

adjective

mis·er·a·ble

ˈmi-zər-bəl,

ˈmiz-rə-,

ˈmi-zə-rə-

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

miserable refugees

: wretchedly inadequate or meager (see meager sense 2)

a miserable hovel

: causing extreme discomfort or unhappiness

a miserable situation

miserable weather

his miserable childhood

: being likely to discredit or shame

his miserable neglect of his wife

had a miserable, snide contempt for our country

Joyce Winslow

miserable noun

miserableness noun

miserably

ˈmi-zər-blē

ˈmiz-rə-

ˈmi-zə-rə-

adverb

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 The Green Bay Packers prevailed, 21-0, over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who were miserable in the cold and deep snow.

Jim Reineking, USA TODAY, 17 Nov. 2022 But the tour was a disaster—the press noted that both prince and princess looked miserable.

Eliana Dockterman, Time, 9 Nov. 2022 Parker and Kohli are terrific, working with some difficult material given that both of their characters are often unpleasantly miserable.

Noel Murray, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2022 The Bengals looked miserable in the first half, especially offensively, as they were shut out in a half for the first time since Sept. 30, 2021 against the Jaguars.

Andrew Gillis, cleveland, 31 Oct. 2022 Noting how he was burned out, miserable and unhappy, Cowell said he was consumed with the ratings battle between U.K.

Amanda Taylor, Peoplemag, 30 Oct. 2022 Testing took place in several different ski area parking lots and resort restaurants and bars across New Mexico in temps and conditions that ranged from mild and sunny to miserable and nuking.

Jakob Schiller, Outside Online, 18 Oct. 2022 Burt moves the family to northern California for a new job, and the entire family is miserable.

Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 15 Nov. 2022 There’s a lot of people who are continuing to work, and the experience of working with them is miserable; the juice is sometimes not even worth the squeeze.

Adam B. Vary, Variety, 3 Nov. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'miserable.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.