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Miserable: Definition, Usage & Common Mistakes (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：extremely unhappy (miserable)

miserable 🔊

/ˈmɪz(ə)rəb(ə)l/

adj.

It means someone is extremely unhappy, like they're feeling really terrible, maybe because they're sick, very sad, or something bad happened.

Miserable meaning illustrated by a person feeling deep sadness and emotional distress.

extremely unhappy 🔊

➕

/ɪkˈstriːmli ʌnˈhæpi/

adj.

Describes a state of deep emotional distress, suffering, or unhappiness, often caused by loss, disappointment, or illness.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：初级

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Derived from Latin 'miserabilis' (pitiable, wretched), from 'miserari' (to pity), ultimately from 'miser' (wretched).

💡 Mnemonic

Think of a miser (a stingy person) feeling awful. A 'miser' + 'able' = 'miserable' (feeling as bad as a miser is with money).

📖 Example

After her pet dog ran away, she felt absolutely miserable and didn't want to eat for days. 🔊 She experienced profound sadness and loss of appetite following her dog's disappearance.

🔗 Collocations

feel miserable – To experience great unhappiness or discomfort.

look miserable – To have an appearance that suggests great unhappiness.

miserable failure – A complete and disappointing lack of success.

🔄 Synonyms

wretched (adj.) – In a state of deep distress or misery.

dejected (adj.) – Sad and dispirited, often after a disappointment.

despondent (adj.) – In low spirits from loss of hope or courage.

🚫 Antonyms

elated (adj.) – Ecstatically happy or proud.

joyful (adj.) – Feeling, expressing, or causing great pleasure and happiness.

cheerful (adj.) – Noticeably happy and optimistic.

📖 Cultural Story

The word entered English via French in the late 14th century. It originally carried a stronger sense of being deserving of pity or compassion due to wretchedness. This sense survives in phrases like 'a miserable sinner' in older religious contexts. Today, its meaning has broadened to describe intense unhappiness or discomfort.

Meaning 2：dreadfully uncomfortable (miserable)

miserable 🔊

/ˈmɪz(ə)rəb(ə)l/

adj.

It describes weather or situations that make you feel very uncomfortable, like cold rainy days that chill you to the bone.

Miserable conditions shown in a scene of dreadful weather causing discomfort.

dreadfully uncomfortable 🔊

➕

/ˈdredfəli ʌnˈkʌmftəb(ə)l/

adj.

Describes conditions, weather, or situations that cause great physical discomfort or are very unpleasant.

📁 Category：Natural Geography 🔖 Level：初级

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

We had to wait for the bus for an hour in the miserable pouring rain. 🔊 Enduring a long wait in harsh, uncomfortable rainy weather.

🔗 Collocations

miserable weather – Unpleasant, cold, wet, or stormy atmospheric conditions.

miserable conditions – Very poor, uncomfortable, or inadequate circumstances.

miserable day – A day characterized by unpleasant weather or events.

🔄 Synonyms

wretched (adj.) – Of poor quality; very unpleasant.

dismal (adj.) – Causing a mood of gloom or depression; dreary.

bleak (adj.) – Cold, bare, and unwelcoming; lacking in warmth or hope.

🚫 Antonyms

pleasant (adj.) – Giving a sense of happy satisfaction or enjoyment.

delightful (adj.) – Causing delight; charming.