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wretched — extremely unhappy, unfortunate, or miserable

Part of speech: ADJECTIVE

Definition: extremely unhappy, unfortunate, or miserable

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈrɛtʃɪd/

Example Sentences

  • The pizza delivery guy felt wretched when he realized he'd been driving around with a cold pizza for two hours.
  • Living in those wretched slums was unbearable.
  • She made a wretched attempt at singing karaoke that cleared the entire room.

wretched

ADJECTIVE

[/ˈrɛtʃɪd/]

extremely unhappy, unfortunate, or miserable

The wretched beggar shivered in the rain, clutching an empty bowl outside the warm bakery.
💡 Concept

The wretched beggar shivered in the rain, clutching an empty bowl outside the warm bakery.

The wretched artist stretched and sketched through the night
🎵 Rhyme

The wretched artist stretched and sketched through the night

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈrɛtʃɪd/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈrɛtʃɪd/

🌳Etymology

Rootwretch
Suffix--ed

Origin

The word derives from Old English wrecca, meaning 'outcast' or 'miserable person.' The term originally described someone banished or expelled from society, and evolved to characterize the pitiful condition of such a person.

Breakdown

wrecca (outcast, exile) + -ed (adjective suffix), forming an adjective that describes someone or something in a miserable, wretched state.

🎵Rhyme

stretched
fetched
sketched

🔗Collocations

feel wretched
wretched conditions
wretched weather
absolutely wretched
wretched existence
wretched state

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

“The pizza delivery guy felt wretched when he realized he'd been driving around with a cold pizza for two hours.”

“Living in those wretched slums was unbearable.”

😄 Fun example

“She made a wretched attempt at singing karaoke that cleared the entire room.”

“The refugees lived in wretched conditions without proper shelter.”

📚Related Words

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