English Explanatory Dictionary

wretched

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj

Characterized by or feeling deep affliction or distress; very miserable.
Of an inferior or unworthy nature or social status; contemptible, lowly.
Of an insignificant, mean, or poor nature; miserable, paltry, worthless.
Of a person, etc.: behaving in a manner causing contempt; base, despicable, wicked.
Of weather: causing much discomfort; very unpleasant; miserable.
Used to express annoyance towards or dislike of someone or something: bloody, damned.

Pronunciation

/ˈɹɛt͡ʃɪd/ /ˈɹɛt͡ʃəd/ En-us-wretched.ogg

Word forms

wretched more wretched most wretched

Etymology

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).

Synonyms

dejected wretchful atrabiliary atrabilious deplorable depressing distressing grievous heartbreaking heartrending miserable lamentable lachrymable mournful regrettable rueful sad saddening sorrowful tragic unhappy upsetting woebegone woeful blitheless dispirited blue bummed out chapfallen cheerless chopfallen crestfallen cut up damp depressed despondent disgruntled disconsolate disheartened dismal doleful dolesome down down in the dumps down in the mouth downcast downhearted downsome dull elegiac elegious forlorn gloomy glum grief-stricken grieving heavy-hearted heartsore heartsick inconsolable

Related words

ratchet wretch wretchful wretchless wretchlessly wretchlessness wretchock

Derived words

wretchedly wretchedness

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