miserable
After losing his job, he felt miserable for weeks.
He was extremely sad and uncomfortable emotionally due to losing his job.
Very unhappy, sad, or uncomfortable in a way that affects one's mood or physical state.
The rainy weather made everyone feel miserable.
The gloomy weather caused everyone to feel very unhappy.
She was miserable after the argument with her best friend.
She felt deep sadness and discomfort following the fight.
Often implies a prolonged or intense state of unhappiness, not just a passing emotion.
Of very poor quality or condition; causing discomfort or distress.
The hotel room was small and miserable, with broken furniture.
The hotel room was poorly maintained and uncomfortable.
Used to describe environments, living conditions, or situations that are unpleasant or inadequate.
Collocations
Pro Tip
Avoid redundancy
Do not pair 'miserable' with intensifiers like 'very' or 'extremely'—it is already a strong word. Instead, use 'utterly miserable' or 'deeply miserable' for emphasis.
Gold Rule
Emotional vs. physical use
Use 'miserable' for emotions (e.g., *feeling miserable*) and conditions (e.g., *miserable weather*). For physical pain, 'uncomfortable' or 'painful' may be clearer.
Word Origin
From Latin *miserabilis* ('pitiable, wretched'), derived from *miserari* ('to pity'), related to *miser* ('wretched, poor'). Entered English in the late 14th century.
Usage Notes
Used to describe both emotional states and physical conditions. Avoid overusing in formal writing; 'unhappy' or 'depressed' may be more appropriate in some contexts.