misery

noun

mis·ery ˈmi-zə-rē

ˈmiz-rē

plural miseries

Synonyms of misery next

: a state of suffering and want that is the result of poverty or affliction

War brought misery to thousands of refugees.

: a circumstance, thing, or place that causes suffering or discomfort

the joys and miseries of life

: a state of great unhappiness and emotional distress

My former boss made my life a misery.

Choose the Right Synonym for misery

distress, suffering, misery, agony mean the state of being in great trouble.

distress implies an external and usually temporary cause of great physical or mental strain and stress.

the hurricane put everyone in great distress

suffering implies conscious endurance of pain or distress.

the suffering of famine victims

misery stresses the unhappiness attending especially sickness, poverty, or loss.

some people live in misery every day

agony suggests pain too intense to be borne.

in agony over the death of their child

Examples of misery in a Sentence

The war brought misery to thousands of refugees. They were living in overcrowded slums in conditions of great misery. a source of human misery the joy and misery of life The last years of her life were a misery. Stop being such a misery.

Recent Examples on the Web

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Adults comfort young victims with assurances that bullies are living their glory days in the locker room and have nothing but misery to look forward to. —

Judy Berman, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024 The story ends with a description of the misery and desolation that Mishima (the character, and, presumably, the author) has felt, his fundamental aloneness. —

Deborah Treisman, The New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2024 Hurricane Milton plowed into Florida as a Category 3 storm, bringing misery to a coast still ravaged by Helene, pounding cities with winds of over 100 mph (160 kph) after producing a barrage of tornadoes, but sparing Tampa a direct hit. —

Shawn Tully, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2024 Adding to the misery is the fact that Rodgers suffered a sprained ankle in the game. —

Vincent Frank, Forbes, 7 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for misery