Dictionary

wretched en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ˈɹɛt͡ʃəd/ (General-American)
• (General-American) audio
• /ˈɹɛt͡ʃɪd/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From Middle English wrecched (“(adjective) characterized by or suffering hardship or misfortune, miserable, unfortunate, unhappy; indigent, poor; of low economic or social status, lowly; (noun) miserable person”) [and other forms], from wrecche (“characterized by or suffering hardship or misfortune, miserable, unfortunate, unhappy; indigent, poor; of low economic or social status, lowly; base, contemptible, vile; reprehensible, wicked; miserly, stingy; of little importance, paltry, worthless”) (from Late Old English wrecc, from Old English wreċċa (“an exile, outcast”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *wreg- (“to follow, track; to hunt”)) + -ed (suffix forming adjectives). The English word is analysable as wretch (“(obsolete) wretched”, adjective) + -ed (suffix forming adjectives).

Meanings

1. Characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable.
   • Every time the boat was thrown upward, Shakro shrieked wildly. As for me, I felt wretched and helpless, in the darkness, surrounded with angry waves, whose noise deafened me. 1918, Maxim Gorky, “My Fellow-traveller”, in J. [K.] M. Shirazi [et al.], transl., Creatures that Once were Men […], New York, N.Y.: Boni and Liveright, →OCLC, page 202:
   • Mario Balotelli replaced [Carlos] Tevez but his contribution was so negligible that he suffered the indignity of being substituted himself as time ran out, a development that encapsulated a wretched 90 minutes for City and boss Roberto Mancini. 2011 April 11, Phil McNulty, “Liverpool 3 – 0 Man City”, in BBC Sport, archived from the original on 27 Jan 2023:
   • Oh (men forlorne) how wretched is our ſtate, / Whome heaven and earth oppreſſe with heapes of hate! 1576, George Whetstone, “The Arbour of Vertue, […]”, in The Rocke of Regard, […], London: […] [H. Middleton] for Robert Waley, →OCLC; republished in J[ohn] P[ayne] Collier, editor, The Rocke of Regard, […] (Illustrations of Early English Poetry; vol. 2, no. 2), London: Privately printed, [1867?], →OCLC, page 174:
   • I felt wretched after my wife died.
   • […] Emily ſtood, ſilent and trembling, vvretched for herſelf and dreading to leave him in this ſtate of mind. 1794 May 8, Ann Radcliffe, chapter I, in The Mysteries of Udolpho, a Romance; […], 2nd edition, volume IV, London: […] G. G. and J. Robinson, […], →OCLC, page 12:
   • [W]ho might be your mother / That you inſult, exult, and all at once / Ouer the vvretched? c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene v], page 199, column 2:
   • Let theſe / Inſnare the vvretched in the toils of lavv, / Fomenting diſcord, and perplexing right, / An iron race! a. 1749 (date written), James Thomson, “Autumn”, in The Seasons, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, and sold by Thomas Cadell, […], published 1768, →OCLC, page 160, lines 1289–1292:
   • Sir, / vve are no Spinſters; nor, if you look upon us, / ſo vvretched as you take us. 1622 May 24 (licensing date; Gregorian calendar), John Fletcher, Philip Massinger, “The Prophetesse”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1647, →OCLC, Act III, scene i, page 33, column 2:
   • From thence they came, / VVhere, in the next VVard, a most vvretched band / Groan'd underneath the bitter tyranny / Of a fierce Dæmon; […] 1796, Robert Southey, “Book the Ninth”, in Joan of Arc, an Epic Poem, Bristol: […] Bulgin and Rosser, for Joseph Cottle, […], and Cadell and Davies, and G. G. and J. Robinson, […], →OCLC, pages 346–347, lines 618–621:
2. Of an inferior or unworthy nature or social status; contemptible, lowly.
   • The street was full of wretched beggars dressed in rags.
   • So I have withdrawn, like a bad little boy, to conceal myself, out of spite, in one of the wretchedest villages in Saxony. 1865, Thomas Carlyle, “Battle of Torgau”, in History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Called Frederick the Great, volume VI, London: Chapman and Hall, […], →OCLC, book XX, page 135:
   • […] Simonov would size me up, and despise me for my wretched vanity and want of spirit; […] 1913, Fyodor Dostoevsky, “Letters from the Underworld: Part II: Apropos of the Falling Sleet”, in C[harles] J[ames] Hogarth, transl., edited by Ernest Rhys, Letters from the Underworld (Everyman’s Library; no. 654), London: J[oseph] M[alaby] Dent & Sons; New York, N.Y.: E[dward] P[ayson] Dutton & Co., published 1937, →OCLC, section III, page 79:
   • This time was most dreadful for Lilian. Thrown on her own resources and almost penniless, she maintained herself and paid the rent of a wretched room near the hospital by working as a charwoman, sempstress, anything. In a moment she had dropped to the level of the casual labourer. 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XXXVII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC, page 287:
   • From the foldings of its robe, it [the Ghost of Christmas Present] brought two children; wretched, abject, frightful, hideous, miserable. They knelt down at its feet, and clung upon the outside of its garment. 1843 December 19, Charles Dickens, “Stave Three. The Second of the Three Spirits.”, in A Christmas Carol. […], London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 117:
   • My room is a wretched, horrid one in the outskirts of the town. 1918, Fyodor Dostoevsky, “Notes from Underground: A Novel: Part I: Underground”, in Constance Garnett, transl., White Nights and Other Stories […] (The Novels of Fyodor Dostoevsky; X), New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company, →OCLC, section I, page 52:
   • I had been here ſooner, but that, vvretched man that I am! I ſlept in the Arbour that ſtands on the Hillſide; nay, I had notvvithſtanding that, been here much ſooner, but that in my ſleep I loſt my Evidence, and came vvithout it to the brovv of the Hill; and then feeling for it, and finding it not, I vvas forced vvith ſorrovv of heart, to go back to the place vvhere I ſlept my ſleep, vvhere I found it, and novv I am come. 1678, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World, to That which is to Come: […], London: […] Nath[aniel] Ponder […], →OCLC, page 51:
3. Of an insignificant, mean, or poor nature; miserable, paltry, worthless.
   • I just lack the fine motor skill. Same reason I'm a grown man who doesn't know how to use a screwdriver without looking like a retard. Oh, I'm wretched.
   • All those wretched quarrels, in his humble opinion, stirring up bad blood – bump of combativeness or gland of some kind, erroneously supposed to be about a punctilio of honour and a flag, – were very largely a question of the money question which was at the back of everything, greed and jealousy, people never knowing when to stop. 1922 February 2, James Joyce, “[Episode 16: Eumaeus]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company […], →OCLC, part III [Nostos], page 598:
4. Of a person, etc.: behaving in a manner causing contempt; base, despicable, wicked.
   • But a Devil came in juſt in the God-ſpeed, and told them; Gentlemen Philoſophers, (ſays he) if you vvould knovv the VVretched'ſt, and moſt contemptible thing in the VVorld; It is an Alchymiſt: […] 1667, Francisco de Quevedo Villegas, “The Sixth Vision of Hell”, in R[oger] L[’Estrange], transl., The Visions of Dom Francisco de Quevedo Villegas, […], London: […] H[enry] Herringman […], →OCLC, page 247:
   • A Heretic may see the truth and seek redemption. He may be forgiven his past and will be absolved in death. A Traitor can never be forgiven. A Traitor will never find peace in this world or the next. There is nothing as wretched or as hated in all the world as a Traitor. 1993, Rick Priestley, Andy Chambers, Warhammer 40,000 Rulebook, Second edition, Games Workshop, page 22:
5. Of weather: causing much discomfort; very unpleasant; miserable.
6. (informal) Used to express annoyance towards or dislike of someone or something: bloody, damned.
   • Will you please stop playing that wretched trombone!

Forms

Deriveds

wretchedmost · wretchedness · wretchedly · unwretched

Relateds

wretchful · wretchless · wretchlessness · wretch · wretchlessly · wretchock · ratchet

Synonyms

threnetic · inconsequential · for the birds · base · ignoble · cheapshit · sordid · pissass · woeful · pathetic · punk · reptitious · pound-shop · disheartened · disgraceful · unweighty · sorrowful · roynish · mid · blasted · atrabiliary · pointless · mournful · lugubrious · second-rate · blue · beggarly · tin-pot · garbage · picayunish · disgruntled · slazy · flimsy · below par · scabbed · floccinaucinihilipilificatious · plaintive · lousy · disreputable · down in the mouth · despisable · schlocky · uncommendable · melancholic · vile · hylical · craptacular · bad · regrettable · saddening · lachrymose · gash · sullen · low · trashy · heartrending · cheap · crapperific · deridable · inconsolable · dishonorable · chapfallen · wretchful · depressing · pissant · damnable · damp · solemn · Plutonic · one-star · dejected · elegious · pitiable · discreditable · crappy · trash · joyless · unwashed · lousy · saturnine · scornworthy · blameworthy · down · trashy · disconsolate · mean-spirited · Plutonian · third-rate · unsophisticated · scummy · minor · shabby · cheesy · frivolous · shit · poor man's · negligible · idle · trivial · doleful · cut up · dull · unhappy · moody · made in China · sad · ignominious · chintzy · deplorable · scrubby · laughable · filthy · lousy · ignorable · shitty · sombre · like a fart in a windstorm · downcast · reprehensible · pissass · rinky-dink · indifferent · uncool · piteous · vain · under par · miserable · immaterial · cheap and nasty · insignificant · fourth-rate · carrion · tin-pot · shite · meager · piddly · woe · low-quality · lame · heavy-hearted · ugly · uncheery · obscene · crummy · poor · cheap · shameful · simple · lamentable · sorrowful · trifling · disdainable · morose · base · sorry · contemptible · reptilian · spiritless · slavish · bum · low-grade · outrageous · woeful · abject · ruthful · inconsiderable · miserable · loathsome · vulgar · substandard · pathetic · dejected · mopey · bummed out · low-grade · drecky · querulous · shoddy · worthless · risible · woebegone · foolish · derisible · execrable · downhearted · futile · sad · silly · blitheless · nondescript · bottom-shelf · ridiculous · inglorious · ropy · shit · grieving · crap · low-spirited · unhappy · two-bit · dismal · naughty · forlorn · tenth-rate · heartsick · crestfallen · lumpish · triste · distressing · slim · reprehensive · chopfallen · low · glum · craptabulous · choical · mournful · wretched · sad · null · coffee-and · dolesome · sorrow-ridden · wretched · paltry · scald · deplorable · atrabilious · grief-stricken · shattered · down in the dumps · unworthy · nothingburger · rueful · contemptible · sleazy · hylic · reptile · subpar · wistful · picayune · ass · atrabilious · dispirited · petty · atrabiliary · plebeian · worthless · pitiful · depressed · heartbreaking · bleeding · weak · trifling · mean · passionate · crappo · craptastic · ticky-tacky · cringing · inferior · base · unmentionable · infelicitous · groveling · woebegone · unlively · punk · degraded · low-rent · putrid · ludicrous · slimy · heartsore · cheerless · low · sorrowsome · god-awful · cruddy · tristful · wretched · threnetical · unimportant · unconsolable · uncheerful · miserable · jawfallen · slight · elegiac · grievous · base · despondent · upsetting · dedecorous · slight · melancholy · wretched · dirty · woeful · lachrymable · despicable · rubbish · downsome · dogwater · piddling · scurvy · BTEC · mean · lamentful · saddened · pitiful · gloomy · miserable · tragic · ticky-tacky · paltry

Translations (91)

cs zpropadený (of a person, etc.: behaving in a manner deserving contempt) · fi kurja (of weather: causing much discomfort; very unpleasant — see also miserable) · hi बदक़िस्मत (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · cs nešťastný (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · hy դժբախտ (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · cs mizerný (of a person, etc.: behaving in a manner deserving contempt) · hi मंदभागी (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · fi pahainen (of an insignificant, mean, or poor nature — see also worthless) · mk у́жасен (of a person, etc.: behaving in a manner deserving contempt) · hi बदबख़्त (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · az bədbəxt (of an insignificant, mean, or poor nature — see also worthless) · bg нещастен (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · ru убогий (of an insignificant, mean, or poor nature — see also worthless) · mi tūreikura (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · fi viheliäinen (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · mk лош (of weather: causing much discomfort; very unpleasant — see also miserable) · pt maldito (of an insignificant, mean, or poor nature — see also worthless) · pl nędzny (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · et kasutu (of an insignificant, mean, or poor nature — see also worthless) · hi कंगाल (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · grc ἄθλιος (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · ga ainnis (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · ru жа́лкий (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · hi बेहाल (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · bg злочест (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · mk о́двратен (of weather: causing much discomfort; very unpleasant — see also miserable) · mk бе́ден (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · az miskin (of an insignificant, mean, or poor nature — see also worthless) · hi दरिद्र (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · fr misérable (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · hi दीन (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · ota فقیر (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · ro mizerabil (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · pt miserável (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · hi दुख का मारा (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · fi surkea (of an insignificant, mean, or poor nature — see also worthless) · cs ubohý (of an insignificant, mean, or poor nature — see also worthless) · de sehr schlecht (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · el ελεεινός (of a person, etc.: behaving in a manner deserving contempt) · bg мизерен (of an insignificant, mean, or poor nature — see also worthless) · de erbärmlich (of a person, etc.: behaving in a manner deserving contempt) · fi onneton (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · es desgraciado (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · ga aimlithe (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · nl ellendig (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · fi riivattu (of a person, etc.: behaving in a manner deserving contempt) · bg презрян (of a person, etc.: behaving in a manner deserving contempt) · es mísero (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · ro nenorocit (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · ga aimléiseach (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · cmn 可怜的 (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · ka საბრალო (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · bg окаян (of an insignificant, mean, or poor nature — see also worthless) · el άθλιος (of a person, etc.: behaving in a manner deserving contempt) · sa दीन (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · hi बदनसीब (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · mk у́жасен (of weather: causing much discomfort; very unpleasant — see also miserable) · got 𐌰𐍂𐌼𐍃 (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · et väärtusetu (of an insignificant, mean, or poor nature — see also worthless) · cs zkroušený (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · cs zatracený (of a person, etc.: behaving in a manner deserving contempt) · mk не́среќен (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · hi अक्षेम (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · mk ми́зерен (of an insignificant, mean, or poor nature — see also worthless) · la miser (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · de erbärmlich (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · fi kurja (of an insignificant, mean, or poor nature — see also worthless) · de wertlos (of an insignificant, mean, or poor nature — see also worthless) · ka საცოდავი (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · cs bídný (of an insignificant, mean, or poor nature — see also worthless) · hi अभागा (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · cs mizerný (of weather: causing much discomfort; very unpleasant — see also miserable) · ru несча́стный (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · sq ngratë (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · et õnnetu (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · hi कमबख़्त (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · mk ни́штожен (of an insignificant, mean, or poor nature — see also worthless) · id laknat (of a person, etc.: behaving in a manner deserving contempt) · cs zoufalý (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · hi निगोड़ा (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · az bədbəxt (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · es infeliz (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · got 𐍅𐌰𐌹𐌽𐌰𐌷𐍃 (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · eo aĉa (of a person, etc.: behaving in a manner deserving contempt) · fi surkea (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · fi kurja (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · nb kummerlig (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · ga dearóil (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · de miserabel (characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable) · mk клет (of a person, etc.: behaving in a manner deserving contempt) · grc ἄθλιος (of a person, etc.: behaving in a manner deserving contempt)