noun
misery
MIHZ-rih
noun
1
A state of deep unhappiness, suffering, or distress.
"The refugees endured months of misery before finding shelter."
"She poured out all her misery in a long, tearful letter."
2
Something that causes great unhappiness, such as hardship or poverty.
"Constant debt was the family's greatest misery."
How to Use Misery
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDeep unhappiness or suffering, or something that causes it.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
put someone out of their misery
a life of misery
sheer misery
Word Forms
miseries plural
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The refugees endured months of _____ before finding shelter.
Etymology
From Latin miseria, from miser ("wretched").