misery

noun

mis·ery ˈmi-zə-rē

ˈmiz-rē

plural miseries

Synonyms of misery next

: a state of suffering and want that is the result of poverty or affliction

War brought misery to thousands of refugees.

: a circumstance, thing, or place that causes suffering or discomfort

the joys and miseries of life

: a state of great unhappiness and emotional distress

My former boss made my life a misery.

Choose the Right Synonym for misery

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.

Middleton put the possession out of its misery with what turned into a decent look on an off-the-bounce midrange jumper, but the entire possession lacked purpose. —

Eric Nehm, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025 Carter’s true legacy is one of economic misery at home and embarrassment on the world stage. —

Philip Klein, National Review, 29 Dec. 2024 Several countries in sub-Saharan Africa plan to use 20% of their land for such purposes, risking more misery and upheaval for their people. —

Mark Gongloff, Boston Herald, 28 Dec. 2024 But there’s a lot more misery than delight as the season returns us to the games, repeating the bloody spectacle with new twists but the same crabs-in-a-barrel personal dynamics. —

James Poniewozik, New York Times, 26 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for misery