C1noun2K

Misery

UK /["/ˈmɪzəri/"]/US /["/ˈmɪzəri/"]/

Definition

great physical or mental pain

In simple words: A feeling of great unhappiness or suffering.

Examples

The constant misery of living in poverty affected his outlook on life.
She found herself trapped in a cycle of misery and despair after the loss of her job.
The novel brilliantly captures the misery endured by soldiers during the war.
They watched the misery on his face as he received the bad news.
Enduring misery for a short period often leads to personal growth and strength.

Usage notes

Use this word when talking about deep sadness or distress. It is generally appropriate in serious contexts, but avoid using it casually.

Grammar pattern

standalone noun

Memory hint

Remember 'misery' as 'my-sorry' — think of being sorry for feeling so sad.

Collocations

abject
great
real
be full of
endure
feel
misery of
make somebody’s life a misery
abject
great
real
be full of
endure
feel
misery of
make somebody’s life a misery

Synonyms

poverty

Antonyms

happiness
joy
comfort

Common mistakes

Confused with 'miserable' as a verb instead of an adjective.
Misusing it to describe minor inconveniences.
Using it without context, making it unclear.