misery
noun
mis·ery ˈmi-zə-rē 
ˈmiz-rē
plural miseries
1
: a state of suffering and want that is the result of poverty or affliction
War brought misery to thousands of refugees.
2
: a circumstance, thing, or place that causes suffering or discomfort
the joys and miseries of life
3
: a state of great unhappiness and emotional distress
My former boss made my life a misery.
Synonyms
- agony
- Gehenna
- hell
- horror
- murder
- nightmare
- torment
- torture
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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. See More
Recent Examples on the Web Idaho State received $350,000 for its eight-hour trip of misery and 52-21 beatdown, which is more than enough reason to have the dawg pound close their eyes in terms of watchability. 
Scooby Axson, USA TODAY, 29 Aug. 2022 Humidity invaded the outskirts of discomfort, but failed to cross the threshhold of misery. Martin Weil, Washington Post, 27 Aug. 2022 There’s a sense of misery, but there’s a lot of fun in these. Ben Flanagan | Bflanagan@al.com, al, 24 Aug. 2022 In the throes of misery, Michael’s life is still one packed with one posh party after another, attended by cool friends like playboy weatherman Billy (Emerson Brooks) and unlucky-in-love gallerist Stanley (Brooks Ashmanskas). Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 July 2022 So, while this is still going to wind up being successful season for the Bulls after years of misery, this front office clearly has a lot of work to do to figure out how to build a stronger, more balanced roster that can make noise in the playoffs. Jason Patt, Forbes, 25 Apr. 2022 At this point, everybody’s now just trying to take care of Hayley’s unfinished misery business. Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 31 May 2022 Murray will step into the shoes of misery Ebenezer Scrooge, following the retirement of the company’s longtime Scrooge, Tom Stephenson, last winter. San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 May 2022 Embiid’s return after sitting out the first two games only added to Miami’s misery. Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 8 May 2022 See More
Scooby Axson, USA TODAY, 29 Aug. 2022 Humidity invaded the outskirts of discomfort, but failed to cross the threshhold of misery. Martin Weil, Washington Post, 27 Aug. 2022 There’s a sense of misery, but there’s a lot of fun in these. Ben Flanagan | Bflanagan@al.com, al, 24 Aug. 2022 In the throes of misery, Michael’s life is still one packed with one posh party after another, attended by cool friends like playboy weatherman Billy (Emerson Brooks) and unlucky-in-love gallerist Stanley (Brooks Ashmanskas). Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 July 2022 So, while this is still going to wind up being successful season for the Bulls after years of misery, this front office clearly has a lot of work to do to figure out how to build a stronger, more balanced roster that can make noise in the playoffs. Jason Patt, Forbes, 25 Apr. 2022 At this point, everybody’s now just trying to take care of Hayley’s unfinished misery business. Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 31 May 2022 Murray will step into the shoes of misery Ebenezer Scrooge, following the retirement of the company’s longtime Scrooge, Tom Stephenson, last winter. San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 May 2022 Embiid’s return after sitting out the first two games only added to Miami’s misery. Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 8 May 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing misery
Kids Definition
misery
noun
mis·ery ˈmi-zə-rē
ˈmiz-rē
plural miseries
: great suffering or unhappiness
misery
noun
1
as in agony
a situation or state that causes great suffering and unhappiness the flood brought misery to the many hundreds whom it had made homeless Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- agony
- nightmare
- torment
- torture
- horror
- curse
- hell
- murder
- tragedy
- misfortune
- ordeal
- calamity
- tribulation
- cross
- affliction
- Gehenna
- calvary
- trial
- thorn
- downer
- drag
- gall
- bummer
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- joy
- pleasure
- heaven
- delight
- entertainment
- paradise
- recreation
- fun
- diversion
- riot
- picnic
- lark
2
as in distress
a state of great suffering of body or mind a medication that promises to provide greater relief to those living in chronic misery because of arthritis Synonyms & Similar Words
- agony
- distress
- anguish
- pain
- discomfort
- torment
- woe
- torture
- sorrow
- tribulation
- sadness
- hurt
- excruciation
- heartbreak
- hardship
- travail
- pang
- affliction
- unhappiness
- heartache
- strait(s)
- rack
- trouble
- danger
- difficulty
- ache
- joylessness
- emergency
- crucible
- cross
- jeopardy
- soreness
- smarting
- trial
- twinge
- throe
- pinch
- stitch
- rigor
- asperity
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- relief
- solace
- alleviation
- comfort
- consolation
- ease
- peace
- security
- assuagement
- well-being
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of misery are agony, distress, and suffering. While all these words mean "the state of being in great trouble," misery stresses the unhappiness attending especially sickness, poverty, or loss.
the homeless live with misery every day
The synonyms agony and misery are sometimes interchangeable, but agony suggests pain too intense to be borne.
in agony over the death of their child
The meanings of distress and misery largely overlap; however, distress implies an external and usually temporary cause of great physical or mental strain and stress.
the hurricane put everyone in great distress
The words suffering and misery are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, suffering implies conscious endurance of pain or distress.
the suffering of famine victims