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wretched

Meaning in simple English, pronunciation and examples

Pronunciation: US /ˈrɛtʃɪd/ · UK /ˈretʃɪd/

wretched means: Extremely bad, unpleasant, or poor in quality.

adjective

VERY BADC1

Extremely bad, unpleasant, or poor in quality.

  • The weather was wretched.
  • We stayed in a wretched little hotel.
  • The workers lived in wretched conditions.

Similar words: terrible, awful, dreadful, poor

Opposites: excellent

Common phrases: wretched weather, wretched conditions, wretched quality

VERY UNHAPPYC1

Very unhappy or suffering badly, sometimes as if bad luck follows you.

  • He felt wretched and alone.
  • The poor, wretched man had lost everything.
  • She believed she was cursed to lead a wretched life.

Similar words: miserable, unhappy, distressed

Opposites: happy

Common phrases: feel wretched, wretched soul, wretched life, look wretched

LOW AND CONTEMPTIBLEC2

Seen as worthless, shameful, or very low in society.

  • The lord dismissed him as a wretched beggar.
  • They treated the servants as wretched creatures.
  • The wretched villain betrayed everyone who trusted him.

Similar words: contemptible, lowly, despicable

Opposites: noble

Common phrases: wretched beggar, wretched creature, wretched villain

Questions about wretched

What does wretched mean?

Extremely bad, unpleasant, or poor in quality.

What is wretched in other languages?

Türkçe: berbat · Español: pésimo · Français: épouvantable · Deutsch: erbärmlich · Italiano: pessimo · 日本語: ひどい

How do you pronounce wretched?

In American English /ˈrɛtʃɪd/; in British English /ˈretʃɪd/.

How do you use wretched in a sentence?

The weather was wretched. We stayed in a wretched little hotel.

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