adj B1 Intermediate Common

miserable

MIHZ-ruh-buhl

Miserable (adj) means Extremely unhappy, especially over a period of time. Example: “He felt miserable for weeks after losing his job.”

adj

Extremely unhappy, especially over a period of time.

"He felt miserable for weeks after losing his job."

"The dog looked miserable standing out in the rain."

Unpleasant, especially describing bad weather or conditions.

"It was a miserable, grey afternoon with sleet coming sideways."

Very poor in quality or amount.

"They were paid a miserable wage for backbreaking work."

How to use miserable

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishVery unhappy, or (of weather/conditions) very unpleasant.

Common pairings

feel miserable miserable weather a miserable failure

Word forms

more miserable comparative, miserables plural, most miserable superlative

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He felt _____ for weeks after losing his job.

Etymology

From Latin miserabilis, based on miser ("wretched").

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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wretched dejected despondent forlorn dismal dreary

Related words

bad happy sad abandoned boring lonely defeated depressed

Rhymes for miserable

able fable cable table viable liable stable tenable parable affable amiable notable

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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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