ˈmi-zər-bəl
1
as in bleak
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer
spent the night in a miserable jail cell
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unhappy
feeling unhappiness
the awful news made us miserable
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in terrible
of low quality
a miserable meal that I wouldn't feed to a dog
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of miserable
Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2025
That means that Americans with allergies now face more miserable days spent with runny noses, itchy eyes, coughing, and sneezing.
—Nora Colomer, FOXNews.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Head coach Doug Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke were both fired after a miserable 2024 season.
—Bryce Lazenby, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Apr. 2025
My salient and best memories of those sleepless, miserable first days revolve around the wild generosity that was on display.
—Dana Goodyear, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for miserable
Adjective
But Spoelstra believes the last two close defeats are different than the ones the Heat experienced during its miserable 10-game losing skid last month.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2025
That means that Americans with allergies now face more miserable days spent with runny noses, itchy eyes, coughing, and sneezing.
—Nora Colomer, FOXNews.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Head coach Doug Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke were both fired after a miserable 2024 season.
—Bryce Lazenby, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Apr. 2025
My salient and best memories of those sleepless, miserable first days revolve around the wild generosity that was on display.
—Dana Goodyear, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for miserable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for miserable
Adjective
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The coming-of-age story finds a new generation of young women in Gilead, grappling with the bleak future that awaits them.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
1 Apr. 2025
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Stocks had sold off sharply last Friday, amid growing uncertainty on U.S. trade policy and a bleak inflation outlook.—
Amala Balakrishner,
CNBC,
30 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Despite his close relationship with Trump, Elon Musk is unhappy about tariffs, which stand to hurt the business empire of the world’s richest man.—
Danielle Chemtob,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
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There have even been reports of police being called to deal with the rowdy behavior, not to mention some theater employees who are unhappy about the cleanup required.—
Lisa Respers France,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The rhetoric pushed here is that someone with a high body count has less value and will either make a terrible partner or no one will want them in the first place.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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The domestic box office is presently in a terrible state, and Minecraft could prove to be the shot of confidence Hollywood studios and cinema owners need after recent films, including Disney’s Snow White, have turned into major disappointments.—
Pamela McClintock,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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City officials say failing lifeguard towers present two problems: Lifeguards could get injured inside a dilapidated structure, and the public could be at higher risk if lifeguards can’t effectively scan beaches and bays.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Apr. 2025
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The film follows three characters – a traditional beekeeper, a healer and a priest attempting to save a dilapidated church – and features archival material dating back to the 1930s.—
Lise Pedersen,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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In fact, the massive, albeit picturesque, gullies were made because of poor farming practices during the 1800s.—
Nicole Letts,
Southern Living,
21 Mar. 2025
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The Heat continues to rotate through different starting groups because of injuries and poor play, using six different starting lineups in the last six games and 11 different starting lineups in the last 13 games.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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One of the most pathetic symbols of the new manosphere is Mark Zuckerberg.—
Robert B. Reich,
Hartford Courant,
4 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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He was made to leave a pauper after years of hard work.—
Kanak Kapur,
The New Yorker,
5 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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This keeps us lonely at a time when the loneliness public health crisis is at an all-time high.—
Priya Vulchi,
Time,
9 Apr. 2025
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Ro, now a police officer, needs help investigating the death 22 years earlier of their classmate, Ricky, killed in a hit-and-run on a lonely county road.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
6 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Miserable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/miserable. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025.
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