ˈmi-zər-bəl
1
as in bleak
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer
spent the night in a miserable jail cell
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unhappy
feeling unhappiness
the awful news made us miserable
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3
as in terrible
of low quality
a miserable meal that I wouldn't feed to a dog
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4
as in dilapidated
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect
a miserable little apartment
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5
as in poor
deserving of one's pity
miserable refugees from the war-torn country
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6
as in pathetic
deserving pitying scorn (as for inadequacy)
that ugly mutt is one miserable excuse for a dog
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of miserable
Mosi Reeves, Rolling Stone, 7 Mar. 2025
The Studio knows that the war for the future of movies is worth fighting, even if the generals are weak and the conditions on the ground miserable.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 7 Mar. 2025
The team had a group task to accomplish, yes, but at every checkpoint, people had to make the decision to be selfish or selfless, and the selfish ones got rewarded while the selfless were left abandoned and miserable on the loch.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2025
Its economic position is parlous, its demographic situation is miserable and its military capacities have atrophied, and most of the chest-thumping about a revival of European power is empty talk and fantasy politics.
—Ross Douthat, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for miserable
Adjective
The world is a disgusting and miserable place, and Tory Lanez is eager to exploit it.
—Mosi Reeves, Rolling Stone, 7 Mar. 2025
The Studio knows that the war for the future of movies is worth fighting, even if the generals are weak and the conditions on the ground miserable.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 7 Mar. 2025
The team had a group task to accomplish, yes, but at every checkpoint, people had to make the decision to be selfish or selfless, and the selfish ones got rewarded while the selfless were left abandoned and miserable on the loch.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2025
Its economic position is parlous, its demographic situation is miserable and its military capacities have atrophied, and most of the chest-thumping about a revival of European power is empty talk and fantasy politics.
—Ross Douthat, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for miserable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for miserable
Adjective
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Voters were also asked to give one word to describe the Democratic Party, and the responses were bleak.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
21 Mar. 2025
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Outside of the December slide, this is as bleak as it’s looked for the Rangers this season.—
Arthur Staple,
The Athletic,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Rather than panic, consider that software developers are pretty unhappy with the status quo.—
Steve Rodda,
Forbes,
18 Mar. 2025
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Recent polling also suggests that Americans are relatively unhappy with DOGE’s efforts.—
Filip Timotija,
The Hill,
15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The boys now harbor a terrible secret of their own.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes,
24 Mar. 2025
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But the point is, every team has a few terrible losses in the course of a season.—
Josh Yohe,
The Athletic,
22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The dilapidated Johnson Inn still stands on a valuable Porter Beach lakefront parcel almost two years after the town of Porter issued condemnation orders.—
Jim Woods,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2025
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Kumar purchased the dilapidated former Burger King last year and plans to convert the building into a commissary and test kitchen to create new menu items for his other restaurants and to provide training for his cooks.—
Tyler Williams,
Orlando Sentinel,
21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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This can manifest in poor financial behaviors like excessive credit card debt, minimal savings, or impulsive investment decisions.—
Shane Enete,
Forbes,
24 Mar. 2025
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Sharon is the first member of the coven to die after the first of the five trials; meanwhile, the rest of the coven fends off further danger, faces new challenges, and even adds a new member to their ranks, replacing poor Sharon almost immediately.—
Shania Russell,
EW.com,
23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The image of the 77-year-old Green screaming and shaking his cane at the president was partly disturbing but mostly pathetic.—
Matthew Continetti,
National Review,
8 Mar. 2025
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Michael Gandolfini pops up as a slimy Fisk mayoral staffer who wouldn’t look out of place in this magazine’s recent cover featuring the new young right, and his playing both pathetic and vaguely sympathetic is very fun to watch.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
4 Mar. 2025
Noun
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They were presumed to be paupers from Mexico, looking for charity.—
Richard J. Gonzales,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Mar. 2025
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The Frasers find out that Jane has been buried in an unmarked grave in a pauper’s field, news that devastates Frances.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Retirement has been described by many who struggle as being incredibly lonely.—
Lorraine Wiseman,
Forbes,
18 Mar. 2025
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Four months ago, the lonely widower met Anna Valenza.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
17 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Miserable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/miserable. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
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