What does miserable mean?
Miserable means extremely unhappy, unfortunate, or unpleasant. It describes a person's feelings, such as grief, loneliness, or despair, and can also characterize conditions that are painfully cold, uncomfortable, inadequate, or disappointing. The word often carries a sense of pity: a person may be described as miserable because their situation seems especially deserving of sympathy. It can also be more critical when applied to an event or performance, as in 'a miserable defeat,' where it suggests that the result was exceptionally bad. In everyday conversation, 'miserable' is often used with mild exaggeration, though it can express genuine distress in serious contexts. The word is related etymologically to misery and miser, reflecting its long connection with unhappiness and unfortunate circumstances.
Extremely unhappy, sorrowful, or causing unhappiness or distress.
"He was miserable for weeks after the accident."
Common in both formal and informal English; often expresses a strong degree of unhappiness or distress.
So poor, unpleasant, or unsuccessful as to be especially disappointing or contemptible.
"The weather turned miserable just as the festival began."
This extended sense is especially common in informal expressions describing weather, conditions, results, or performances.
Miserable comes from the Latin word for unhappy and unfortunate, so it has described unfortunate people for centuries.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does miserable come from?
Miserable entered English in the early 16th century from French misérable, which was borrowed from Latin miserabilis, meaning 'wretched' or 'pitiable.' The Latin word was formed from miser, meaning unfortunate or unhappy, with the suffix -abilis, giving it the sense of 'liable to be unhappy or pitiable.' Its relatives in English include misery, miser, and miserliness, all reflecting the same broad history of sorrow or unfortunate condition.
Related word forms
How miserable is actually used
The adjective is common in both formal and informal English. It can be used empathetically, but in phrases such as 'a miserable failure' it often expresses strong criticism or contempt.
Easily confused with miserable
Miserable describes severe unhappiness or an unpleasant condition, whereas miserly describes someone who hoards money or is unwilling to spend it.