miserable

Feeling very unhappy or uncomfortable because of sadness, illness, or poor living conditions.

• I felt miserable all day.
• The cold made everyone miserable.
• She looked miserable after hearing the news.

Similar words: unhappy, wretched, depressed

Opposites: happy, cheerful

Common phrases: feel miserable, miserable life, look miserable

Very bad at doing a particular activity.

• I'm miserable at tennis.
• He was a miserable cook.
• Despite years of practice, she remained miserable at singing.

How to use it: miserable at something/doing something (I'm miserable at remembering names.)

Similar words: hopeless, incompetent, unskilled

Opposites: skilled, competent

Common phrases: miserable at something, miserable player, miserable cook

Very unpleasant or bad, deserving strong dislike or disrespect.

• That miserable liar cheated us.
• He called the thief a miserable coward.
• It was a miserable excuse for an apology.

Similar words: contemptible, wretched, despicable

Opposites: admirable

Common phrases: miserable coward, miserable liar, miserable excuse