Definition of miserynext

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 The Braves couldn’t quite run the Phillies’ misery to 11 straight losses. Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 26 Apr. 2026 For one 15-year-old in Nepal, the misery continued long after the blisters burst. Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 24 Apr. 2026 Cuba is miserable, and to travel there without noticing the misery is grotesque all by itself. Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2026 This is when producers put her out of her misery and take her back to Longleat. Brian Moylan, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for misery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misery
Noun
  • The breakup with Claude is why Mathias left Lyon and radically changed his life, and their encounter brings his romantic agony rushing back.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 30 Apr. 2026
  • That’s a woman reaching up in agony and fear.
    Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • That said, debt settlement can be a legitimate option, particularly for those who are already in severe financial distress, have accounts that have already gone to collections or are weighing bankruptcy as the alternative.
    Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 6 May 2026
  • Hantavirus is an illness carried by rodents that can spread to humans and cause acute respiratory distress.
    Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 May 2026
Noun
  • When the show picks up, Lorcan is experiencing a strange series of nightmares centered around a terrifying rabbit-faced man, a creature pulled from Celtic mythology known as a Pooka.
    Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 1 May 2026
  • Continue reading … LIGHTS BACK ON — Trump ends DHS' months-long nightmare that left immigration enforcement without funding.
    , FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
Noun
  • Police said the victim sustained visible injuries to his hand and reported additional pain and possible scrapes to his shin.
    Stepheny Price , Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 2 May 2026
  • But climbing costs are causing pain at the pump for some Americans already struggling to afford their bills.
    Michael Loria, USA Today, 2 May 2026
Noun
  • Among the most notable upcoming executions is that of Christa Pike in Tennessee for the 1995 torture murder of her romantic rival.
    Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
  • When putting on anything other than pajamas seems like pure torture, this T-shirt dress comes to the rescue.
    Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • That last sentence comes out choked with anguish, his voice breaking on the final word.
    Amy Driscoll, Miami Herald, 3 May 2026
  • The $10 million in noneconomic damages was for issues including pain and suffering and mental anguish.
    Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Who knows the horrors of the seas like HERMAN MELVILLE?
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
  • The psychological horror film, starring Armie Hammer, Dakota Johnson and Zazie Beetz, was distributed by Hulu in the United States and Netflix internationally.
    Brent Lang, Variety, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Elsewhere, the entire structure is wrapped in spray foam between inner and outer surfaces, and the floors have hydronic heating to prevent what is arguably the biggest source of discomfort in homes without foundations – perpetually cold floors.
    Stefan Ionescu May 06, New Atlas, 6 May 2026
  • There’s discomfort with being around my father physically, and realizing there was synergy to those two things.
    Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 6 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Misery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misery. Accessed 8 May. 2026.

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