wretched

[ rech-id ]
/ ˈrɛtʃ ɪd /

adjective, wretch·ed·er, wretch·ed·est.

very unfortunate in condition or circumstances; miserable; pitiable.
characterized by or attended with misery and sorrow.
despicable, contemptible, or mean: a wretched miser.
poor, sorry, or pitiful; worthless: a wretched job of sewing.

Origin of wretched

First recorded in 1150–1200, wretched is from the Middle English word wrecchede. See wretch, -ed3

SYNONYMS FOR wretched

2 Wretched, miserable, sorry refer to that which is unhappy, afflicted, or distressed. Wretched refers to a condition of extreme affliction or distress, especially as outwardly apparent: wretched hovels. Miserable refers more to the inward feeling of unhappiness or distress: a miserable life. Sorry applies to distressed, often poverty-stricken outward circumstances; but it has connotations of unworthiness, incongruousness, or the like, so that the beholder feels more contempt than pity: in a sorry plight.
3 base, vile.

OTHER WORDS FROM wretched

wretch·ed·ly, adverb wretch·ed·ness, noun un·wretch·ed, adjective

Words nearby wretched

Example sentences from the Web for wretched

British Dictionary definitions for wretched

wretched
/ (ˈrɛtʃɪd) /

adjective

in poor or pitiful circumstances
characterized by or causing misery
despicable; base
poor, inferior, or paltry
(prenominal) (intensifier qualifying something undesirable) a wretched nuisance

Derived forms of wretched

wretchedly, adverb wretchedness, noun