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
Synonyms
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
That’s a mark that assuredly will be surpassed with two games remaining in this wretched season.
—
Dan Duggan, The Athletic, 22 Dec. 2024
The script, co-written by Ross and producer Joslyn Barnes, scraps Whitehead’s opening prologue about the wretched cemetery to instead emphasize that this will be a bittersweet celebration of life.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2024
But the end of Assad’s wretched regime unlocks many doors.
—Bret Stephens, The Mercury News, 12 Dec. 2024
Star Wars Outlaws Welcome to a wretched hive of scum and villainy.
—Richard Newby, TIME, 5 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for wretched 
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Dan Duggan, The Athletic, 22 Dec. 2024
The script, co-written by Ross and producer Joslyn Barnes, scraps Whitehead’s opening prologue about the wretched cemetery to instead emphasize that this will be a bittersweet celebration of life.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2024
But the end of Assad’s wretched regime unlocks many doors.
—Bret Stephens, The Mercury News, 12 Dec. 2024
Star Wars Outlaws Welcome to a wretched hive of scum and villainy.
—Richard Newby, TIME, 5 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for wretched
Dictionary Entries Near wretched
Cite this Entry
“Wretched.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wretched. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
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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