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misery

Syllabification: (mis·er·y)
Pronunciation: /ˈmiz(ə)rē/

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Definition of misery

noun (plural miseries)

  • a state or feeling of great distress or discomfort of mind or body:she went upstairs and cried in misery he wrote endlessly about his frustrations and miseries
  • (usually miseries) a cause or source of great distress or discomfort:the miseries of war

Phrases

make someone's life a misery (or make life a misery for someone)

cause someone severe distress by continued unpleasantness or harassment.

put someone/something out of their misery

end the suffering of a person or animal in pain by killing them.
informal release someone from suspense or anxiety by telling them something they are anxious to know.

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French miserie, from Latin miseria, from miser 'wretched'

misery in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of misery in the British & World English dictionary
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