What does miserably mean?
Miserably is an adverb describing conduct, performance, or conditions that are extremely poor, unsuccessful, or associated with unhappiness. It commonly means “very badly”: a team might play miserably, a plan might fail miserably, or a task might be done miserably. It can also convey extreme hardship or distress, as in the phrase “miserably poor,” though this use can sound deliberately emphatic or somewhat dated. The word has a strongly negative evaluative force and often implies that a result was not merely unsuccessful but conspicuously so. In modern informal English, it is also used as an intensifier before adjectives such as “late,” “overwhelmed,” or “wrong.” More neutral alternatives include “badly,” “poorly,” and “very badly,” while formal contexts may prefer “adversely,” “seriously,” or “woefully.” Miserably derives from “miserable,” which ultimately comes from Latin words associated with suffering, wretchedness, and pity.
adverbIn a miserable or unhappy manner; very poorly or badly. It can also emphasize that a situation is extremely bad or that something is done to a very low standard.
- In a way that causes or involves unhappiness, hardship, or distress.
- Very poorly or to a very low standard.
"The team performed miserably in its final match."
"Local residents have had to cope with miserably maintained roads for years."
"The early reviews were miserable, and the film failed to attract audiences."
Say something failed “miserably” and you signal not merely bad performance, but a conspicuously disappointing one.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
How miserably is actually used
In its intensifying use, as in “miserably late,” the word often has an informal, emphatic tone. In formal writing, “badly,” “poorly,” or “woefully” may be more suitable.