miserable
MIHZ-ruh-buhl
Miserable (adj) means Extremely unhappy, especially over a period of time. Example: “She was miserable at her old school and rarely smiled.”
adj
1
Extremely unhappy, especially over a period of time.
"She was miserable at her old school and rarely smiled."
"He felt miserable for weeks after losing his job."
"The dog looked miserable standing out in the rain."
2
Unpleasant, especially describing bad weather or conditions.
"We had a miserable holiday because it rained heavily every single day."
"The miserable conditions on the building site made the work much harder."
"It was a miserable, grey afternoon with sleet coming sideways."
3
Very poor in quality or amount.
"The shop gave us a miserable portion of chips for the money."
"He made a miserable attempt at repairing the fence, and it fell again."
"They were paid a miserable wage for backbreaking work."
How to use miserable
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishVery unhappy, or (of weather/conditions) very unpleasant.
Common pairings
feel miserable
miserable weather
a miserable failure
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Word forms
- Plural
- miserables
- Comparative
- more miserable
- Superlative
- most miserable
Fill the gap
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She was _____ at her old school and rarely smiled.
Etymology
From Latin miserabilis, based on miser ("wretched").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for miserable
See all rhymes for miserable →Frequently asked questions
What does “miserable” mean?
The word “miserable” means extremely unhappy, especially over a period of time. In plain terms, very unhappy, or (of weather/conditions) very unpleasant.
How do you pronounce “miserable”?
“Miserable” is pronounced MIHZ-ruh-buhl (/ˈmɪz(ə)ɹəbəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “miserable” in a sentence?
Here is “miserable” used in a sentence: “He felt miserable for weeks after losing his job.”
What part of speech is “miserable”?
“Miserable” is an adjective.
Where does the word “miserable” come from?
The word “miserable” comes from Latin. From Latin miserabilis, based on miser ("wretched").
Is “miserable” a common word?
“Miserable” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “miserable” have?
“Miserable” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: extremely unhappy, especially over a period of time.
What is the difference between miserable and sad?
Sad covers any degree of unhappiness and can describe a passing mood, while miserable means extremely unhappy, often over a period of time. Missing a bus might make you sad for a moment; a month of illness in a cold apartment could make you genuinely miserable.
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