Misery — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈmi-zə-rē/ mis·ery

Meaning & Definition of Misery

Misery (noun)

  1. a state of suffering and want that is the result of poverty or affliction
  2. a circumstance, thing, or place that causes suffering or discomfort
  3. a state of great unhappiness and emotional distress

Misery (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a situation or state that causes great suffering and unhappiness

    "the flood brought misery to the many hundreds whom it had made homeless"

    similar: agony, Gehenna, hell, horror, murder, nightmare, torment, torture
    related: affliction, calvary, cross, curse, ordeal, trial, tribulation, calamity, misfortune, tragedy, gall, thorn, bummer, downer, drag
    opposite: heaven, paradise
    near: delight, diversion, entertainment, fun, joy, pleasure, recreation, lark, picnic, riot

  2. 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"

    similar: affliction, agony, anguish, distress, excruciation, hurt, pain, rack, strait(s), torment, torture, travail, tribulation, woe
    related: discomfort, cross, crucible, trial, heartache, heartbreak, joylessness, sadness, sorrow, unhappiness, emergency, pinch, asperity, difficulty, hardship, rigor, ache, pang, smarting, soreness, stitch, throe, twinge, danger, jeopardy, trouble
    near: comfort, consolation, solace, alleviation, assuagement, ease, relief, peace, security, well-being

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Misery

The most common words with a similar meaning to Misery:

agony, Gehenna, hell, horror, murder, nightmare, torment, torture, affliction, anguish, distress, excruciation, hurt, pain, rack, strait(s), travail, tribulation, woe

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Misery

Words with the opposite meaning of Misery:

heaven, paradise

Related Words for Misery

calvary, cross, curse, ordeal, trial, calamity, misfortune, tragedy, gall, thorn, bummer, downer, drag, discomfort, crucible, heartache, heartbreak, joylessness, sadness, sorrow, unhappiness, emergency, pinch, asperity, difficulty, hardship, rigor, ache, pang, smarting

Near Antonyms of Misery

delight, diversion, entertainment, fun, joy, pleasure, recreation, lark, picnic, riot, comfort, consolation, solace, alleviation, assuagement, ease, relief, peace, security, well-being

Word Forms of Misery

Inflections: miseries

Origin & Etymology of Misery

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Misery

Words & Phrases Containing Misery

misery index, misery guts

Frequently Asked Questions about Misery

What does "Misery" mean?

"Misery" means a state of suffering and want that is the result of poverty or affliction. As a noun, it is defined as: a state of suffering and want that is the result of poverty or affliction. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Misery"?

Other words for "Misery" include agony, Gehenna, hell, horror, murder, nightmare, torment and torture. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Misery" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Misery"?

There are 56 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Misery". Common alternatives include agony, Gehenna, hell, horror, murder, nightmare, torment, torture, affliction and anguish.

What is the opposite of "Misery"?

Antonyms of "Misery" include heaven and paradise. Near antonyms include delight, diversion, entertainment and fun.

How do you use "Misery" in a sentence?

Examples of "Misery" in a sentence: "the flood brought misery to the many hundreds whom it had made homeless"; "a medication that promises to provide greater relief to those living in chronic misery because of arthritis".

Is "Misery" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Misery" is a noun.

Is "Misery" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Misery" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Misery"?

"Misery" is pronounced /ˈmi-zə-rē/ and divided into syllables as mis·ery.