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wretched

2 syllables

adjective

Quick answer

As an adjective, wretched means characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress.

Meanings of wretched

11 meanings

adjective

Characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable.
“I felt wretched after my wife died.”
Of an inferior or unworthy nature or social status; contemptible, lowly.
“The street was full of wretched beggars dressed in rags.”
Of an insignificant, mean, or poor nature; miserable, paltry, worthless.
Of a person, etc.: behaving in a manner deserving contempt; base, despicable, wicked.
Of weather: causing much discomfort; very unpleasant; miserable.
informalUsed to express annoyance towards or dislike of someone or something: bloody, damned.
“Will you please stop playing that wretched trombone!”
Of very poor quality or condition
“deplorable housing conditions in the inner city”
“woeful treatment of the accused”
“woeful errors of judgment”
Similar: deplorable, execrable, miserable, woeful
Characterized by physical misery
“a wet miserable weekend”
“spent a wretched night on the floor”
Similar: miserable
Very unhappy; full of misery
“he felt depressed and miserable”
“a message of hope for suffering humanity”
“wretched prisoners huddled in stinking cages”
Similar: miserable, suffering
Morally reprehensible
“would do something as despicable as murder”
“ugly crimes”
“the vile development of slavery appalled them”
Similar: despicable, ugly, vile, slimy, unworthy, worthless
Deserving or inciting pity
“a hapless victim”
“miserable victims of war”
“the shabby room struck her as extraordinarily pathetic”
Similar: hapless, miserable, misfortunate, pathetic, piteous, pitiable