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
The competition offers not only the last chance to salvage silverware from a wretched season but is also now vital to their hopes of playing in Europe again next season — and their finances.
—
The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Tell me the wretched truth about America, because that speaks to our greatness.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 1 Apr. 2025
The longtime Red Sox pitcher and current NESN analyst unloaded on Devers after his wretched season-opening series against the Rangers.
—Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2025
The ones who weren’t downright frauds were only cracked and wretched old women with delusions.
—Charles Portis, Harper's Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wretched
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The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Tell me the wretched truth about America, because that speaks to our greatness.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 1 Apr. 2025
The longtime Red Sox pitcher and current NESN analyst unloaded on Devers after his wretched season-opening series against the Rangers.
—Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2025
The ones who weren’t downright frauds were only cracked and wretched old women with delusions.
—Charles Portis, Harper's Magazine, 28 Feb. 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 22 Apr. 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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