Miserable – Definition, Meaning, Synonyms & Antonyms

Miserable meaning refers to extreme unhappiness, suffering, or discomfort; wretched, pitiable, or deeply unhappy.

History of the Word Miserable

Latin: Miserabilis (Late 15th century)

The word miserable has its origins in the Latin term “miserabilis,” which means pitiable or wretched. Latin served as the foundation for many words in Old French and other Romance languages.

Old French: Miserable (Early 15th century)

The word evolved into Old French as miserable with a similar meaning of being deserving of pity or compassion. Old French was the Romance language spoken in France from the 9th century to the 14th century.

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Middle English: Miserable (Late 15th century)

As Old French influenced Middle English, ‘miserable’ found its way into the English language with a similar sense of wretchedness or suffering.

Modern English: Miserable (17th century onwards)

The word continued to be used in its current form in Modern English, maintaining its core meaning of being in a state of unhappiness, discomfort, or distress.

English (Miserable As Adjective)

Etymology

Miserable comes from the Latin “miserabilis,” rooted in “miserari” (to pity or lament).

Pronunciation

Pronounced: /ˈmɪzərəbl̩/.

Forms of Miserable

Adjective	miserable
Comparative Degree	more miserable
Superlative Degree	most miserable
Adverb	miserably
Noun	misery

Derived Terms

Misery
Miserably
Miserableness
Miser
Miserliness
Miserabilist
Miserere
Miserarian

Translations

Spanish: miserable
French: misérable
German: elend
Italian: miserabile
Portuguese: miserável
Russian: жалкий (zhalkiy)
Chinese (Simplified): 可怜的 (kělián de)
Japanese: 惨めな (mijimena)
Miserable meaning in Hindi: दुखी (dukhi)
Urdu: مصیبت زدہ (musibat zada)

Synonyms

Wretched
Suffering
Unhappy
Pitiable
Dismal

Antonyms

Happy
Content
Joyful
Delighted
Pleased

Examples Sentences

She felt miserable after the loss.
Their living conditions were truly miserable.
The rainy, dreary day made her feel miserable.

FAQs (People May Also Ask)

What does miserable mean?

Miserable describes extreme unhappiness, suffering, or discomfort; it denotes wretchedness or deep unhappiness.

Can miserable be used as a noun?

Yes, misery is the noun form, referring to the state of suffering or extreme unhappiness.

What’s the adverb form of miserable?

The adverb form is miserably, used to describe how something is done miserably.

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