# miserable

/ˈmɪzɝəbəɫ/ (US) · /mˈɪzɹəbəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/miserable
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. very unhappy

adjective · CEFR B1

feeling very sad, uncomfortable, or unhappy.

For teachers: experiencing great distress, discomfort, or unhappiness.

- He felt miserable after losing his job and stayed in bed all day.
- The refugees were living in miserable conditions, lacking basic access to clean water or adequate medical facilities.

### 2. bad weather

adjective · CEFR B1

unpleasant weather that is usually cold, grey, and rainy.

For teachers: of weather conditions: extremely unpleasant, typically characterized by cold, dampness, and lack of sunlight.

- It was a miserable afternoon with constant rain and a cold wind.
- The hike was cancelled due to the miserable weather, as the thick fog made the mountain trails far too dangerous for the group.

### 3. poor quality

adjective · CEFR B2

very bad, small, or disappointing in amount or quality.

For teachers: contemptibly small, inadequate, or of very poor quality.

- The hotel offered a miserable breakfast of just one piece of dry toast.
- The company offered a miserable pay increase that failed to even match the current rate of inflation.

### 4. unpleasant person

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

always complaining or being unfriendly to others.

For teachers: characterised by a habitually sullen, grumpy, or complaining temperament.

- Don't be so miserable; try to enjoy the party for once.
- He has become a miserable old man who spends his afternoons shouting at the neighbourhood children for playing near his fence.

## Examples

- The cold rain made everyone feel miserable.
- She spent a miserable week in bed with the flu while her friends were on vacation.
- The refugees lived in miserable conditions, facing both the harsh winter elements and a severe lack of basic medical supplies.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.