misery

/ˈmɪzəri/

extreme suffering or unhappiness

The refugees endured years of misery in the camp.

This shows prolonged, severe suffering due to harsh conditions.

general

A state of extreme suffering, distress, or unhappiness

His loneliness turned into deep misery after losing his job.

Emotional pain intensified due to isolation and financial loss.

The novel depicts the misery of war through the eyes of soldiers.

Literary portrayal of war's psychological and physical toll.

Often used to describe prolonged or intense suffering, not fleeting sadness.

Collocations

endure miseryto suffer through hardship without reliefplunge into miseryto suddenly experience deep sufferingrelieve miseryto alleviate someone's suffering

unhappy people prefer to be with others who are also unhappy

Use 'misery' for deep, lasting suffering, not minor inconveniences.

'Misery' should describe extreme conditions, not everyday annoyances.

From Middle English 'miserie', from Old French 'misere', from Latin 'miser' (wretched) + '-ia' (abstract noun suffix)

Avoid using 'misery' for temporary discomfort; reserve for severe, prolonged suffering.

mis-

bad, wrong

prefix

-ery

state or condition

suffix

English Dictionary