1
as in horrible
extremely unsatisfactory
this report is simply wretched—you'll have to rewrite it
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2
as in pitiful
arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust
a wretched lie
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3
as in bleak
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer
lived alone in a wretched room in a run-down hotel
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4
as in poor
falling short of a standard
a wretched attempt at writing an original song
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5
as in unhappy
feeling unhappiness
she was wretched for weeks after breaking up with her boyfriend
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6
as in vile
not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency
his wretched treatment of women earned him a bad reputation
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7
as in terrible
of low quality
wretched goods that aren't even worth half of what the store is charging for them
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8
as in pathetic
deserving of one's pity
those wretched souls who cannot even afford a decent roof over their heads
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9
as in miserable
deserving pitying scorn (as for inadequacy)
the pampered socialite complained that the only room available was in a wretched little motel by the highway
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Recent Examples of wretched
Bill undergoes a moral crisis when his path crosses with a wretched head nun (Emily Watson) at a convent that’s part of the notorious Magdalene Laundries — a place of severe abuse of women.
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Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
The quirky, engaging film centers on the wretched and lonely lives of 1970s Australian twins — Grace (Sarah Snook) and Gilbert (Kodi Smit-McPhee) — who weather rotten foster families apart after their alcoholic, paraplegic father dies.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 25 Oct. 2024
That all plays out in a bar, where Brock succumbs to a wretched hangover that will dog him for the first half of the movie, a cute little motif that recurs much like his quest to find a decent pair of shoes.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2024
But by the Middle Ages, Greek philosophical texts had become largely unavailable to European Christians, who believed that humans were too wretched to find the good without a supernatural deity.
—Sigal Samuel, Vox, 20 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for wretched 
Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
The quirky, engaging film centers on the wretched and lonely lives of 1970s Australian twins — Grace (Sarah Snook) and Gilbert (Kodi Smit-McPhee) — who weather rotten foster families apart after their alcoholic, paraplegic father dies.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 25 Oct. 2024
That all plays out in a bar, where Brock succumbs to a wretched hangover that will dog him for the first half of the movie, a cute little motif that recurs much like his quest to find a decent pair of shoes.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2024
But by the Middle Ages, Greek philosophical texts had become largely unavailable to European Christians, who believed that humans were too wretched to find the good without a supernatural deity.
—Sigal Samuel, Vox, 20 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for wretched
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wretched
Adjective
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Although there is high demand among students for internships and other work opportunities, our education-employer ecosystem is doing a horrible job delivering them.Brandon Busteed, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024
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Even as the country seeks to emerge from the legacy of those seven horrible years, however, a new government elected in 2023 has become the first since the fall of the dictatorship to justify the regime’s extrajudicial killings and violent repression.Joshua Hammer, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The Bucs gained 156 yards on 32 carries, with the Giants’ pitiful tackling paving the way to most of those yards.Dan Duggan, The Athletic, 24 Nov. 2024
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This pitiful state of affairs has arisen even though the EU has a strong industrial base and counts four of the world’s ten largest arms exporters among its members.Norbert Röttgen, Foreign Affairs, 22 Nov. 2024
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Their story could have been told myriad ways and, if the current TV market had anything to say about it: the best way to tell any true crime is to be as bleak, haunting and gory as possible.Ed Herro, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Dec. 2024
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In recent years, people have taken to social media arguing that, while the film might be visually appealing, its underlying message is bleak.John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 6 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The cub was also hairless and found in poor condition.Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024
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Baby is a poor sleeper, so the mother has to tend to him day and night while also running the household.Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2024
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However, the grandma was unhappy with their unexpected arrival.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024
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However, Tomlin was unhappy with the penalties Pickens committed.Chantz Martin, Fox News, 4 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Not all these lip products are created equal: some leave a weird white cast, and others taste vile.The Editors, Outside Online, 29 Nov. 2024
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The same people supporting a party that has normalized vile behavior are often the same people criticizing educators for their job performance.Meghan Hatch-Geary, Hartford Courant, 2 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Jack McBrayer plays a flustered resort concierge who delivers the terrible news to two bridezilla-esque adults who won’t be walking down the aisle in white but are still very invested in the nuptials.Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 11 Dec. 2024
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Food is terrible, the vibe is off, absolutely trash.Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Tucker Carlson's Fox News replacement:Jesse Watters is perfectly pathetic These 3 Arizona spots were ranked among top US dive bars for food.Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 11 Dec. 2024
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The over is the obvious bet here given the pathetic state of both defenses.Hank Gola, New York Daily News, 6 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Wretched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wretched. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.
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