Misery is deep, prolonged unhappiness or suffering. It's that heavy, grinding feeling when something truly difficult won't let up, the kind of distress that persists for days or weeks rather than passing quickly like ordinary sadness or disappointment. A person stuck in bed with a terrible flu for a week might feel miserable. A character in a novel who loses everything they care about experiences misery.

The word captures both physical and emotional pain. You might be in misery from a toothache that throbs all night, or from loneliness after moving to a new town where you don't know anyone yet. What makes something misery rather than ordinary sadness is how it persists and weighs on you.

When people say “misery loves company,” they mean that unhappy people sometimes feel a little better knowing others share their struggles. It's why patients in a hospital waiting room might bond over their shared discomfort.

Miserable is the adjective form: a miserable day might involve rain, failed plans, and a headache all at once. Even genuine misery usually passes. The flu ends, new friendships form, and problems that seemed permanent eventually shift. Knowing that misery is temporary, even when it feels endless, can help people endure difficult stretches and keep moving forward.