wretched
English · Thesaurus
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wretched
- /ˈɹɛt͡ʃɪd/ UK
- /ˈɹɛt͡ʃəd/ US
Where it comes from
From Middle English wrecched (“(adjective) characterized by or suffering hardship or misfortune, miserable, unfortunate, unhappy; indigent, poor; of low economic or social status, lowly; (noun) miserable person”) [and other forms], from wrecche (“characterized by or suffering hardship or misfortune, miserable, unfortunate, unhappy; indigent, poor; of low economic or social status, lowly; base, contemptible, vile; reprehensible, wicked; miserly, stingy; of little importance, paltry, worthless”) (from Late Old English wrecc, from Old English wreċċa (“an exile, outcast”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *wreg- (“to follow, track; to hunt”)) + -ed (suffix forming adjectives). The English word is analysable as wretch (“(obsolete) wretched”, adjective) + -ed (suffix forming adjectives).
adjective more wretched · most wretched
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Characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable.
I felt wretched after my wife died.
Similar: dejected, wretchful, atrabiliary, atrabilious, deplorable, depressing, distressing, grievous, heartbreaking, heartrending, miserable, lamentable
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Of an inferior or unworthy nature or social status; contemptible, lowly.
The street was full of wretched beggars dressed in rags.
Similar: base, lousy, low-grade, ass, bad, below par, bottom-shelf, BTEC, bum, cheap, cheap and nasty, cheapshit
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Of an insignificant, mean, or poor nature; miserable, paltry, worthless.
I just lack the fine motor skill. Same reason I'm a grown man who doesn't know how to use a screwdriver without looking like a retard. Oh, I'm wretched.
Similar: trifling, base, contemptible, floccinaucinihilipilificatious, foolish, for the birds, futile, frivolous, idle, ignorable, immaterial, inconsequential
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Of a person, etc.: behaving in a manner causing contempt; base, despicable, wicked.
But a Devil came in juſt in the God-ſpeed, and told them; Gentlemen Philoſophers, (ſays he) if you vvould knovv the VVretched'ſt, and moſt contemptible thing in the VVorld; It is an Alchymiſt: […]
Similar: abject, filthy, base, beggarly, blameworthy, carrion, cheap, choical, contemptible, cringing, damnable, dedecorous
- Of weather: causing much discomfort; very unpleasant; miserable.
- Used to express annoyance towards or dislike of someone or something: bloody, damned. Will you please stop playing that wretched trombone!
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: miserable, pitiable, pitiful, woeful, pathetic, deplorable, piteous, execrable, sad, misfortunate, uncomfortable, unfortunate, suffering, hapless, inferior, poor
Translations
Every language
adj characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable
| Español | infeliz, desgraciado, mísero |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 可怜的 |
| हिन्दी | अभागा abhāgā, निगोड़ा nigoṛā, कमबख़्त kambaxt, दीन dīn, दुख का मारा dukh kā mārā, बेहाल behāl |
| Português | miserável |
| Français | misérable |
| Deutsch | miserabel, sehr schlecht, erbärmlich |
| Română | mizerabil, nenorocit |
| Русский | жа́лкий žálkij, несча́стный nesčástnyj |
adj of an insignificant, mean, or poor nature — see also worthless
| Português | maldito |
|---|---|
| Deutsch | wertlos |
| Русский | убогий ubogij |
adj of a person, etc.: behaving in a manner deserving contempt
| Deutsch | erbärmlich |
|---|---|
| Ελληνικά | άθλιος áthlios, ελεεινός eleeinós |
Talk about this word "wretched." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/wretched. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. wretched. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/wretched "wretched." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/wretched.Cite this
@misc{wretched_2026,
title = {wretched},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/wretched},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
