Synonym Chooser

How does the noun misery differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of misery are agony, distress, and suffering. While all these words mean "the state of being in great trouble," misery stresses the unhappiness attending especially sickness, poverty, or loss.

the homeless live with misery every day

When could agony be used to replace misery?

The synonyms agony and misery are sometimes interchangeable, but agony suggests pain too intense to be borne.

in agony over the death of their child

When is it sensible to use distress instead of misery?

The meanings of distress and misery largely overlap; however, distress implies an external and usually temporary cause of great physical or mental strain and stress.

the hurricane put everyone in great distress

When is suffering a more appropriate choice than misery?

The words suffering and misery are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, suffering implies conscious endurance of pain or distress.

the suffering of famine victims

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of misery Given his druthers, McMahon will take flakes falling from a Colorado sky over the misery of a cold East Coast drizzle. Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 3 Apr. 2025 As if the Israeli people’s losses from October 7th are not grievous enough, their fears for the hostages not haunting enough, and the miseries of the Gazans not shaming enough, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is bringing his country back to war. Bernard Avishai, New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2025 Her trance is rudely broken when Elliott beans the suffering animal with a tire iron, putting it out of its misery—maybe. Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 28 Mar. 2025 Opening day for the White Sox, losers of a modern major league record 121 games a season ago; standard-bearers, now, of a new and unrivaled sort of sports misery. Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for misery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misery
Noun
  • His experiences at Fuchu Prison left him with frostbite, screaming in agony, after being exposed to sub-zero temperatures during 20 days in solitary confinement.
    Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025
  • What began as a blissful afternoon in the Florida sun ended in agony when a Jeep Wrangler suddenly barreled over a man lying on the beach, police said.
    Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Kahle said that includes providing resources to participants for whom sharing experiences of intimate partner violence may cause trauma or mental health distress.
    Rae Ellen Bichell and Rachana Pradhan, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Climate anxiety — emotional distress linked to the climate crisis — is already widespread.
    Brooke Kasl-Godley, Mercury News, 18 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Package delivery and unpaid toll texts have taken most of the headlines, but an even worse threat is proving a nightmare for phone users.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Eraserhead Year: 1977 Runtime: 1h 29m Director: David Lynch One of the most polarizing filmmakers of all time made an impact from his debut film, this surreal nightmare that was released in arthouses back in 1977 and was an instant hit in major cities.
    Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 18 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • In a lengthy interview with The Daily Mail, Moran's friend, Terry Stone, told the outlet that Moran's girlfriend was the one to encourage him to seek medical help after the actor was experiencing neck pain.
    Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Idaho police department faces scrutiny: Officers shoot disabled teen 9 times Mayor says shooting brought pain to community The officers involved were placed on administrative leave.
    John Bacon, USA Today, 13 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Orlov said Ukrainian POWs and civilians are known to be held in harsh conditions, where allegations of abuse and torture are common.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Apr. 2025
  • The principle of universal jurisdiction allows for the prosecution of crimes such as genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and torture committed on foreign territory by persons who are not nationals of the jurisdiction in question.
    Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • But Season 2, by leaning so far into its characters’ anguish, has become more circular and suffocating in its storytelling.
    Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Coogler attempts to out-scare Jordan Peele’s Get Out, using horror tropes to match the anguish expressed by the blues.
    Armond White, National Review, 18 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Coogler transforms the faux-Faustian blues legend into an allegory of historical horror.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Free League Publishing put out an official Alien Role Playing Game in December of 2019 as part of a fresh batch of space horror games.
    Rob Wieland, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • And of course, a system that has operated in darkness for decades will feel discomfort as it is moved into the light.
    Chris Alexander, New York Daily News, 13 Apr. 2025
  • Yes Yes Sensitive or loose teeth No Yes Receding gum line No Yes Pain or discomfort while chewing Rarely Sometimes Differences While both conditions are forms of the same type of disease, there are some key differences between gingivitis and periodontitis.
    Cristina Mutchler, Health, 12 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Misery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misery. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.

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