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.
Examples of misery in a Sentence
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.
Recent Examples on the Web
One of the few remaining positives in his life is upended before the pilot comes to a close, pushing poor Ted that much further into misery.
—
Ben Travers, IndieWire, 23 Feb. 2025
Human misery and environmental devastation proved the cost of turning coffee from a luxury good into a staple.
—Peter S. Goodman, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025
They were designed to prevent chaos and misery from overwhelming other countries and, eventually, harming our own.
—George Packer, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2025
The Unbreakable Boy works hard, very hard, to pull your heartstrings, wringing every bit of angst, misery and even humor from Austin’s considerable obstacles.
—Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for misery
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Ben Travers, IndieWire, 23 Feb. 2025
Human misery and environmental devastation proved the cost of turning coffee from a luxury good into a staple.
—Peter S. Goodman, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025
They were designed to prevent chaos and misery from overwhelming other countries and, eventually, harming our own.
—George Packer, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2025
The Unbreakable Boy works hard, very hard, to pull your heartstrings, wringing every bit of angst, misery and even humor from Austin’s considerable obstacles.
—Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for misery
Cite this Entry
“Misery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misery. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
misery
noun
mis·ery
ˈmiz-(ə-)rē 
plural miseries
1
: a state of great suffering and want due to poverty or misfortune
2
: a source of misery
3
: a state of unhappiness
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