wretched Meaning & Definition
What Does Wretched Mean?
Wretched is used as an adjective meaning deeply afflicted, dejected, or distressed in body or mind. It can also mean extremely or deplorably bad or distressing.
Wretched at a Glance
| Part of speech | adjective |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈre-chəd/ |
| Syllables | 2 |
| Synonyms | hapless, deplorable and pitiful |
| Antonyms | bitchin', great and marvelous |
| Comparative / superlative | more wretched, most wretched |
| Adverb | wretchedly |
Wretched Definition (Adjective)
- deeply afflicted, dejected, or distressed in body or mind
- extremely or deplorably bad or distressing
was in wretched health / a wretched accident
- being or appearing mean, miserable, or contemptible
dressed in wretched old clothes
- very poor in quality or ability : inferior
wretched workmanship
Synonyms of Wretched
Antonyms of Wretched
Wretched in a Sentence
I felt wretched after my wife died.
The street was full of wretched beggars dressed in rags.
I just lack the fine motor skill. Same reason I'm a grown man who doesn't know how to use a screwdriver without looking like a retard. Oh, I'm wretched.
Will you please stop playing that wretched trombone!
was in wretched health
a wretched accident
dressed in wretched old clothes
wretched workmanship
this report is simply wretched—you'll have to rewrite it
a wretched lie
lived alone in a wretched room in a run-down hotel
a wretched attempt at writing an original song
she was wretched for weeks after breaking up with her boyfriend
his wretched treatment of women earned him a bad reputation
wretched goods that aren't even worth half of what the store is charging for them
those wretched souls who cannot even afford a decent roof over their heads
the pampered socialite complained that the only room available was in a wretched little motel by the highway
was in wretched health / a wretched accident
Word Forms & Grammar
wretch·ed·ly adverb
wretch·ed·ness noun
wretched
wretcheder
wretchedest
wretchedly
wretchedness
wretchednesses
wretched (comparative more wretched, superlative most wretched)
Origin of Wretched
Origin 1: Middle English wrecched, expansion (with -ed -ed:1) of wrecche, adjective, in same sense, going back to Old English wrecc, derivative from the base of wræcca, wrecce "exile, stranger, despicable person" wretch
Origin 2: 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],[1] 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”)[2] (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).[3] The English word is analysable as wretch (“(obsolete) wretched”, adjective) + -ed (suffix forming adjectives).[4]
First Known Use
12th century
How Do You Say Wretched?
You say wretched as /ˈre-chəd/. It has 2 syllables, with the main stress on the first syllable (re).
Common Questions About Wretched
What part of speech is wretched?
Wretched is an adjective.
What is another word for wretched?
Words with a similar meaning to wretched include hapless, deplorable and pitiful. See the full list of wretched synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of wretched?
Antonyms of wretched include bitchin', great, marvelous and wonderful.
What are the comparative and superlative forms of wretched?
The comparative form is more wretched and the superlative form is most wretched.