Meaning & use

wretch

noun·Advanced

A person who is deeply unfortunate, miserable, or pitiable.

See it in a sentence

The old beggar was a wretch who slept beneath the bridge each winter.

The shivering stranger looked such a wretch that she offered him her coat at once.

A note on using this word

Wretch can also be used humorously or with mock contempt, as in "you little wretch," to mean a mischievous or contemptible person.

Words with a similar meaning

poor soulunfortunate

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

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