misery

noun

mis·​ery ˈmi-zə-rē How to pronounce misery (audio)
ˈmiz-rē
plural miseries
Synonyms of misery
1
: a state of suffering and want that is the result of poverty or affliction
War brought misery to thousands of refugees.
2
: a circumstance, thing, or place that causes suffering or discomfort
the joys and miseries of life
3
: a state of great unhappiness and emotional distress
My former boss made my life a misery.
We had to put the animal out of its misery. [=end the animal's suffering by killing it]

Synonyms of misery

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distress, suffering, misery, agony mean the state of being in great trouble.

distress implies an external and usually temporary cause of great physical or mental strain and stress.

the hurricane put everyone in great distress

suffering implies conscious endurance of pain or distress.

the suffering of famine victims

misery stresses the unhappiness attending especially sickness, poverty, or loss.

some people live in misery every day

agony suggests pain too intense to be borne.

in agony over the death of their child

Examples of misery in a Sentence

The war brought misery to thousands of refugees. They were living in overcrowded slums in conditions of great misery. a source of human misery the joy and misery of life The last years of her life were a misery. Stop being such a misery.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The player whose arrival in 2022 signaled the end of a five-year run of misery. — Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026 For so long, many have believed that God is Spirit, yet, somehow, expelled us out of His presence into the vulnerability and misery of matter. — Mark Swinney, Christian Science Monitor, 31 July 2026 Extreme heat is set to roll into Southern California, extending a summer of misery-making stickiness and hot temperatures. — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026 The delusion is painful to watch, but the greater tragedy is that his proximity to this staggering wealth insures his and Lindsay’s misery. — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for misery

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of misery was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing misery

Browse Nearby Words

miserly
misery
misery guts
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Cite this Entry

“Misery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misery. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

misery

noun
mis·​ery ˈmiz-(ə-)rē How to pronounce misery (audio)
plural miseries
1
: a state of great suffering and want due to poverty or misfortune
2
: a source of misery
3
: a state of unhappiness

More from Merriam-Webster on misery

Nglish: Translation of misery for Spanish Speakers

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