misery
n.-
1 great unhappiness (n.) B2 Upper Intermediatea feeling of being very unhappy or suffering a lot.
a state of profound mental or emotional distress; wretchedness.
ExampleThe long winter months brought nothing but misery to the isolated villagers.
ExampleThe refugees lived in a state of constant misery, haunted by the memories of the conflict they had left behind.
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2 poverty and poor conditions (n.) B2 Upper Intermediatevery poor living conditions where people do not have what they need.
the state of living in extreme poverty or squalor.
ExampleThousands of people in the city are living in absolute misery without clean water.
ExampleThe documentary highlighted the systemic misery of the urban slums, where families struggle to survive on less than a dollar a day.
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3 a physical ache (n.) C2 Proficiency Dialecta physical pain or ache in the body.
a localized physical ache or chronic pain. This usage is largely restricted to specific regional dialects.
ExampleThe old man complained about a misery in his lower back whenever it rained.
ExampleShe described a constant misery in her joints that made even the simplest household tasks a burden.
UsageOften used with the definite article 'a' followed by 'in'.
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4 an unhappy person (n.) C1 Advanced British English Informala person who is always complaining or never seems happy.
a person who is habitually morose, pessimistic, or complaining. Primarily used in British English as a mild pejorative.
ExampleDon't be such an old misery; come to the party and have some fun.
ExampleHe had a reputation for being a bit of a misery, rarely joining in the office celebrations or social events.
Teacher's tipCommonly used in the phrase 'an old misery' regardless of the person's actual age.
- grumbler
- killjoy
From Middle English miserie, from Old French miserie (modern: misère), from Latin miseria, from miser, equivalent to miser + -y. Doublet of misère and mizeria.