wretch Definition
- 1an unfortunate or unhappy person
- 2a person who is regarded as base, mean, or despicable
Using wretch: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "wretch" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
He was a wretch who had lost everything in the war.
Example
The wretch was begging for food on the street corner.
Example
She felt like a wretch after cheating on the exam.
wretch Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for wretch
- unfortunate
- miserable person
- poor soul
Antonyms for wretch
- fortunate person
- lucky one
Phrases with wretch
Example
The poor wretch had lost his job and his home.
Example
The party was characterized by wretched excess, with champagne flowing freely and guests indulging in all sorts of luxuries.
a place or group of people characterized by criminal or immoral behavior
Example
The bar was a wretched hive of scum and villainy, filled with smugglers, thieves, and other unsavory characters.
Origins of wretch
from Middle English 'wrecche', meaning 'an exile, an outcast'
Summary: wretch in Brief
'Wretch' [rech] refers to an unfortunate or unhappy person, often regarded as base or despicable. It can be used to describe someone who has lost everything or is begging on the street, as in 'The wretch was begging for food on the street corner.' 'Wretch' can also be used in phrases like 'poor wretch,' denoting a person deserving of sympathy, and 'wretched excess,' referring to excessive luxury or extravagance.