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.
Jordan, to whom scorn comes more naturally than grace, accuses him of envying the rest of the troupe’s ennobling misery. — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 Some residents said hope is elusive given the island’s litany of miseries – from natural disasters to a bankrupt government to a financial control board that manages funding for infrastructure. — Isabel Rosales, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026 My job is to give people joy and entertain them and take them away from, frankly, at the moment, some of the misery of life, where they can get lost in the live gig for two hours. — Katie Bain, Billboard, 27 Aug. 2026 But Moores would express misery in recalling ballpark-construction hassles and MLB politics that frustrated his advocacy of small-market clubs and game-day affordability. — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Aug. 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 4 Sep. 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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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