What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
misery
Example
The refugees were living in absolute misery, with no access to basic necessities. [misery: noun]
Example
She was in misery after the loss of her beloved pet. [misery: noun]
distress
Example
The news of the accident caused great distress to the family. [distress: noun]
Example
He was distressed by the thought of losing his job. [distressed: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Distress is more commonly used than misery in everyday language. Distress is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while misery is less common and may be reserved for more extreme situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between misery and distress?
While distress can be used in both formal and informal contexts, misery is typically associated with a more informal or emotional tone.
