1
: deeply afflicted, dejected, or distressed in body or mind
2
: extremely or deplorably bad or distressing
was in wretched health
a wretched accident
3
a
: being or appearing mean, miserable, or contemptible
dressed in wretched old clothes
b
: very poor in quality or ability : inferior
wretched workmanship
wretchedly
adverb
wretchedness
noun
Examples of wretched in a Sentence
The slums were filled with poor, wretched children.
I don't know what's wrong with her, but she looks wretched.
families living in wretched poverty
the wretched conditions of the refugee camp
How did we get into this wretched state of affairs?
What a wretched performance that was.
That movie was positively wretched.
Recent Examples on the Web
Roaches and a wretched food truck inspection lowlight this week’s list of South Florida restaurants shut down by state inspection.
—
David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 9 May 2025
Twain’s wife, Olivia Langdon, bore him four children, only one of whom escaped a wretched end.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 9 May 2025
This made sense given the unit’s wretched 2024 and the dismissal of longtime defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo.
—Paul Dehner Jr., New York Times, 2 May 2025
The fighting has spawned one of the world's most wretched humanitarian disasters.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wretched
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David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 9 May 2025
Twain’s wife, Olivia Langdon, bore him four children, only one of whom escaped a wretched end.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 9 May 2025
This made sense given the unit’s wretched 2024 and the dismissal of longtime defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo.
—Paul Dehner Jr., New York Times, 2 May 2025
The fighting has spawned one of the world's most wretched humanitarian disasters.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wretched
Cite this Entry
“Wretched.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wretched. Accessed 18 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
wretched
adjective
wretch·ed
ˈrech-əd 
1
: very miserable or unhappy
2
: causing misery or distress
that wretched accident
3
: deserving of hatred or disgust
a wretched trick
4
: very poor in quality or ability
wretched work
wretchedly
adverb
wretchedness
noun
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