Dictionary

miserable en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈmɪz(ə)ɹəbəl/

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French miserable, from Old French, from Latin miserabilis, equivalent to miser + -able.

Meanings

1. In a state of misery: very sad, ill, or poor.
   • The secret of being miserable is to have leisure to bother about whether you are happy or not. The cure for it is occupation, because occupation means pre-occupation 1910, George Bernard Shaw, A Treatise on Parents and Children:
   • With some of it on the south and more of it on the north of the great main thoroughfare that connects Aldgate and the East India Docks, St. Bede's at this period of its history was perhaps the poorest and most miserable parish in the East End of London. 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter VII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
   • Thanks to that penny he had just spent so recklessly [on a newspaper] he would pass a happy hour, taken, for once, out of his anxious, despondent, miserable self. It irritated him shrewdly to know that these moments of respite from carking care would not be shared with his poor wife, with careworn, troubled Ellen. 1913, Mrs. [Marie] Belloc Lowndes, chapter I, in The Lodger, London: Methuen, →OCLC; republished in Novels of Mystery: The Lodger; The Story of Ivy; What Really Happened, New York, N.Y.: Longmans, Green and Co., […], [1933], →OCLC, page 0056:
2. Very bad (at something); unskilled, incompetent; hopeless.
   • He's good at some sports, like tennis, but he's just miserable at football.
3. Of the weather, extremely unpleasant due to being cold, wet, overcast, etc.
4. Wretched; worthless; mean; contemptible.
   • In a month's collecting at Wonosalem and Djapannan I accumulated ninety-eight species of birds, but a most miserable lot of insects. 1869, Alfred Russel Wallace, The Malay Archipelago, volume I, London: Macmillan and Co., page 172:
   • a miserable sinner
5. (obsolete) Causing unhappiness or misery.
   • For what's more miserable than discontent? c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]. Epilogue.”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:
6. (obsolete) Avaricious; niggardly; miserly.
   • the liberal-hearted man is by the opinion of the prodigal miserable, and by the judgment of the miserable lavish [1594], Richard Hooker, edited by J[ohn] S[penser], Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], London: […] Iohn Windet, […], →OCLC, (please specify the page):
7. (as a personality trait) Negative minded, unpleasant to be around.

Forms

Deriveds

miserabilism · miserablist · miserablism · unmiserable · miserableness · miserability · miserable as a wet hen · immiserization · miserabilist · miserably · mimsy · immiseration

Relateds

miser · misery

Synonyms

scabbed · pissass · pathetic · ham-handed · frivolous · noob · discreditable · like a fart in a windstorm · piddling · wretched · sorrowful · inconsiderable · groveling · nothingburger · scurvy · scrubby · shabby · gray · ungenerous · bleak · doleful · rueful · unmentionable · backwards · blitheless · silly · penny-pinching · elegiac · dismal · lugubrious · foolish · sorry · degraded · miserly · miserable · vile · downcast · unlively · reptitious · down · null · loathsome · woe · scummy · melancholy · morose · Plutonian · inconsolable · pissass · somber · depressing · clumsy · pissant · unprofessional · nondescript · lugubrious · crestfallen · jawfallen · damnable · miserable · mean-spirited · paltry · unmerry · contemptible · dolesome · derisible · miserable · damp · worthless · joyless · dismal · avaricious · cheerless · unsophisticated · wistful · incapable · tight · miserable · joyless · risible · spiritless · disgraceful · chapfallen · inexpert · lachrymable · as tight as Dick's hatband · beggarly · sorrow-ridden · minor · uncheery · plebeian · spiritless · ineffective · deridable · unweighty · execrable · dispirited · disheartened · deplorable · cheeseparing · picayunish · tragic · punk · no joke · infelicitous · miserable · gloomsome · atrabilious · hylical · despondent · reptile · sombre · inconsequential · covetous · unimportant · grieving · ignominious · outrageous · parsimonious · ignorable · close as wax · trifling · slimy · downsome · drear · dark · miserly · ugly · dreich · slight · solemn · unhappy · contemptible · solemn · wretched · vain · laughable · despisable · despicable · close · niggardly · reptilian · sombre · maladroit · uncommendable · piddly · downhearted · acquisitive · sorrowsome · two-bit · sordid · dedecorous · disdainable · weak · grim · base · woebegone · tight as a tick · mean · woebegone · negligible · trashy · down in the dumps · atrabilious · sorrowful · woeful · cormorant · saturnine · upsetting · low-spirited · trivial · depressing · glum · disconsolate · immaterial · uncheerful · shattered · ticky-tacky · disconsolate · chopfallen · peddling · blameworthy · incompetent · tristful · indifferent · vulgar · grief-stricken · lame · heartrending · selfish · futile · amateurish · choical · sullen · bad · unskillful · unhappy · threnetical · grasping · sad · pitiful · regrettable · atrabiliary · passionate · illiberal · disgruntled · forlorn · low · chintzy · hylic · ham-fisted · uncool · penny-wise · penurious · tin-pot · insignificant · worthless · bummed out · ruthful · lamentful · unworthy · tight-fisted · floccinaucinihilipilificatious · lachrymose · slavish · gayless · triste · meager · unable · cheap · shameful · woeful · putrid · reprehensive · grievous · obscene · scald · esurient · ignoble · atrabiliary · carrion · desolate · heartsick · inept · sordid · cringing · narrow-fisted · lamentable · dolesome · comfortless · uncheerful · wretched · lack-laughter · sharp-set · voracious · gloomy · paltry · base · pointless · dreary · melancholy · depressed · uncheery · picayune · saturnine · abject · Plutonic · for the birds · stingy · saddening · shabby · dire · piggish · doleful · filthy · shit · melancholic · still got one's communion money · mopey · nipcheese · piteous · close-fisted · scornworthy · roynish · swear · lousy · miserable · unqualified · drearisome · tighter than Dick's hatband · inglorious · mirthless · cheap · unwashed · dull · disreputable · low · down in the mouth · deplorable · mean · heavy-hearted · threnetic · edacious · scrooge-like · mean · miserable · wintry · cut up · mournful · ludicrous · petty · pitiful · miserable · ridiculous · reprehensible · sullen · saddened · idle · sunless · cheerless · querulous · sleazy · forlorn · heartbreaking · simple · inapt · dirty · heartsore · ungiving · dishonorable · elegious · blue · pitiable · morose · rapacious · mournful · plaintive · unconsolable · lumpish · sad · moody · distressing · dejected · greedy · unhappy · gloomy · woeful · bungling

Translations (116)

hi उदास (in a state of misery) · fi kurja (in a state of misery) · he מסכן (in a state of misery) · cs mizerný (very bad (at)) · grc ἄθλιος (in a state of misery) · ja 悲惨な (in a state of misery) · la miser (wretched) · he מחורבן (very bad (at)) · mnc ᡤᠣᠰᡳᡥᠣᠨ (in a state of misery) · az acınacaqlı (in a state of misery) · ca miserable (in a state of misery) · cs bědný (in a state of misery) · mi kōtonga (in a state of misery) · ca desgraciat (in a state of misery) · ga ainnis (in a state of misery) · hu nyomorult (in a state of misery) · nan-hbl 悲慘 /悲惨 (in a state of misery) · fi avuton (very bad (at)) · pt horrível (very bad (at)) · ga galair (in a state of misery) · ary مسْكين (in a state of misery) · ar بَائِس (in a state of misery) · hak 淒慘 /凄惨/悽慘 /凄惨 (in a state of misery) · az miskin (in a state of misery) · mi tureikura (wretched) · ru неуме́лый (very bad (at)) · fi kurja (very bad (at)) · de elend (in a state of misery) · ru бе́дный (in a state of misery) · de miserabel (in a state of misery) · am ቀፋፊ (in a state of misery) · cs nešťastný (in a state of misery) · grc δύστηνος (in a state of misery) · wa minåve (in a state of misery) · cy diflas (in a state of misery) · eo mizera (in a state of misery) · pl nędzny (in a state of misery) · tyz cáo vá (in a state of misery) · hi दुःखी (in a state of misery) · grc ἄθλιος (wretched) · fi kurja (wretched) · hak 慘 /惨 (in a state of misery) · enm myschevous (wretched) · is ömurleg (in a state of misery) · wa pôvriteuse (in a state of misery) · gu દુઃખી (in a state of misery) · nb kummerlig (in a state of misery) · fr misérable (in a state of misery) · hi दयनीय (in a state of misery) · pt miserável (in a state of misery) · hu pocsék (very bad (at)) · ja 惨めな (in a state of misery) · ast mísere (in a state of misery) · he גרוע (very bad (at)) · mi tiwhatiwha (in a state of misery) · txb anās (in a state of misery) · wa mizeråve (in a state of misery) · ru несча́стный (in a state of misery) · hu gyatra (very bad (at)) · ja 下手な (very bad (at)) · ary مسْكينة (in a state of misery) · ast cativu (in a state of misery) · he אֻמְלָל (in a state of misery) · af miserabel (very bad (at)) · ga dearóil (wretched) · ga anóiteach (in a state of misery) · enm myschevous (in a state of misery) · ht mizerab (in a state of misery) · bg лош (very bad (at)) · ang earm (in a state of misery) · cmn 慘 /惨 (in a state of misery) · es miserable (in a state of misery) · got 𐍅𐌰𐌹𐌽𐌰𐌷𐍃 (in a state of misery) · kw moredhek (in a state of misery) · da elendig (in a state of misery) · de miserabel (very bad (at)) · vo miserabik (in a state of misery) · grc μέλεος (in a state of misery) · sa दीन (in a state of misery) · ro mizerabil (in a state of misery) · ota فقیر (in a state of misery) · cy penisel (in a state of misery) · yue 淒慘 /凄惨/悽慘 /凄惨 (in a state of misery) · vi khốn khổ (in a state of misery) · is ömurlegt (in a state of misery) · el κακός (very bad (at)) · is ömurlegur (in a state of misery) · uk неща́сний (in a state of misery) · ko 불행한 상황 (in a state of misery) · bg окаян (in a state of misery) · gu કંગાળ (in a state of misery) · yue 慘 /惨 (in a state of misery) · ro nenorocit (in a state of misery) · es mísero (in a state of misery) · bg злочест (in a state of misery) · wa pôvriteus (in a state of misery) · nan-hbl 淒慘 /凄惨/悽慘 /凄惨 (in a state of misery) · yue 悲慘 /悲惨 (in a state of misery) · de erbärmlich (in a state of misery) · ga aimléiseach (in a state of misery) · gd brònach (in a state of misery) · ca trist (in a state of misery) · gl miserábel (in a state of misery) · cmn 淒慘 /凄惨/悽慘 /凄惨 (in a state of misery) · cmn 悲慘 /悲惨 (in a state of misery) · ro mizer (in a state of misery) · nrf mînséthabl'ye (in a state of misery) · hak 悲慘 /悲惨 (in a state of misery) · la miser (in a state of misery) · nan-hbl 慘 /惨 (in a state of misery) · pl nieszczęśliwy (in a state of misery) · el άθλιος (in a state of misery) · el αξιοθρήνητος (very bad (at)) · hy դժբախտ (in a state of misery) · de jämmerlich (in a state of misery) · af miserabel (in a state of misery)

miserable en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈmɪz(ə)ɹəbəl/

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French miserable, from Old French, from Latin miserabilis, equivalent to miser + -able.

Meanings

1. A miserable person; a wretch.
   • The charge that those who played Jesus in these representations were treated badly by the plays' Jews and Romans left one commissioner cold: in his view, these miserables were beaten much less severely by the players than they were by their actual lords or curacas. 2003, Richard C. Trexler, Reliving Golgotha: The Passion Play of Iztapalapa, pages 46–47:
   • Dona Carmen repaired to the balcony to chat and jest with, and at, these miserables, who stopped before the door to rest in their progress. All pretended poverty while literally groaning under the weight of their riches. 1838, The Foreign Quarterly Review, volume 21, page 181:
2. (in-plural, informal, with-definite-article) A state of misery or melancholy.
   • By 3:00 P.M. both DeeDee and Sandra's pants were thoroughly soaked, and this unhappy circumstance gave DeeDee a bad case of the miserables. 1984, Barbara Wernecke Durkin, Oh, You Dundalk Girls, Can't You Dance the Polka?, page 10:

Forms