wretched Definition
- 1in a very unhappy or unfortunate state
- 2of poor quality; very bad
- 3deserving to be pitied or scorned
Using wretched: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "wretched" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The refugees were living in wretched conditions.
Example
The food was of wretched quality.
Example
He felt wretched after hearing the news.
Example
She looked wretched and pale after being sick for days.
wretched Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with wretched
Example
The cantina in Star Wars was described as a wretched hive of scum and villainy.
the act of spending too much money on something, often in a showy or ostentatious way
Example
The billionaire's yacht was an example of wretched excess.
Example
The poem on the Statue of Liberty refers to immigrants as 'wretched refuse.'
Origins of wretched
from Middle English 'wrecched', meaning 'miserable'
Summary: wretched in Brief
The term 'wretched' [ˈrɛtʃɪd] describes a state of great unhappiness or misfortune, as well as something of poor quality. It can also refer to someone who is deserving of pity or scorn. Examples include 'The refugees were living in wretched conditions,' and 'He felt wretched after hearing the news.' Phrases like 'a wretched hive of scum and villainy' denote places where people of ill repute gather, while 'wretched excess' refers to spending too much money in a showy way.
