# wretch

/ˈɹɛtʃ/ (US) · /ɹˈɛtʃ/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/wretch
Updated: 2026-05-20

## Definition

a person who is very unhappy or suffers a lot. It is an old-fashioned word that people rarely use today.

For teachers: a person who is unfortunate, miserable, or suffering. Often used in literary or poetic contexts to evoke a sense of deep distress or social degradation.

## Examples

- The poor wretch sat alone in the cold.
- The old man looked at the starving wretch with a mix of pity and anger.
- In the bleak landscape of the novel, the protagonist is portrayed as a wretch, stripped of his former status and left to wander the desolate streets.

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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.