What does "misery" mean?
Great unhappiness; extreme pain of body or mind; wretchedness; distress; woe.
Misery
/ˈmɪz(ə)ɹɪ/ name, noun, slang
name, noun, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Great unhappiness; extreme pain of body or mind; wretchedness; distress; woe.
- Grammar: misery is listed as name, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: ache, aches and pains, aching heart, adversity.
- Useful contrasts: great joy, hedonic happiness, joyful affect.
- Usage evidence: In her misery, Mary looked to her husband for help.
How to use "misery"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "misery" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "misery" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "misery" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "misery" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "misery" is acting as name, noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "ache" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "misery", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Great unhappiness; extreme pain of body or mind; wretchedness; distress; woe. countable, uncountable
"Ever since his wife left him you can see the misery on his face."
- 2 a feeling of intense unhappiness wordnet
- 3 A bodily ache or pain. UK, US, countable, dialectal, uncountable
"[...] and I had a misery in my left breast and shoulder. I was hurt, but knew not how or how much."
- 4 a state of ill-being due to affliction or misfortune wordnet
- 5 Cause of misery; calamity; misfortune. countable, uncountable
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 poverty. countable, uncountable
"The Widdow that hath but a pan of braſſe, […] Muſt pay her Landlord many a groat, Or twil be puld out of her throat: […] The rich haue all, the poore liue in miſerie: […]"
- 7 greed; avarice. archaic, countable, uncountable
Proper Noun
- 1 Derogatory name for Missouri: a state of the United States. derogatory, humorous, slang
"First, the young lady whom you spoke as becoming [a] mistress of the establishment would most likely (if she could become as such) be brought into a state of misery, instead of being brought from the state of misery, (or Missouri), [...]"
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"In her misery, Mary looked to her husband for help."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "misery"?
Common synonyms include: ache, aches and pains, aching heart, adversity, affliction, agony.
How do you use "misery" in a sentence?
In her misery, Mary looked to her husband for help.
How do you pronounce "misery"?
Pronounced /ˈmɪz(ə)ɹɪ/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English miserie, from Old French miserie (modern: misère), from Latin miseria, from miser, equivalent to miser + -y. Doublet of misère and mizeria.
Etymology 2
Blend of Missouri + misery.