wretched

In medieval Europe, leprosy was seen as a kind of transfigurative suffering: Those with the condition were believed to be so wretched in this life that they were virtually guaranteed respite in the hereafter.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026

The wretched run of form came at what turned out to be the end of Stokes' reign as captain.

From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026

In that case, you will likely find yourself traveling to or from the concourse on a wretched holdover of mid-century transportation design: the people mover.

From Slate ● Aug. 18, 2026

Villa's wretched 2-1 home defeat by Tottenham on Sunday - a third consecutive loss - did not give them the ideal platform, even if Emery made eight changes.

From BBC ● May 7, 2026

“But we need her. We might have the door but that wretched would-be queen has the keys. She’ll be furious that she was wrong.”

From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova

Especially wretched young men; and the wretcheder one is, the more one smokes; and the more one smokes, the wretcheder one gets—a vicious circle!

From Peter Ibbetson by George Du Maurier

Ah the poor Lover!—In the changing Hands Of Day and Night no wretcheder than He!

From Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám and Salámán and Absál Together With A Life Of Edward Fitzgerald And An Essay On Persian Poetry By Ralph Waldo Emerson by Edward FitzGerald

Yes," sighed Lady Jean; "but Moira would be wretcheder because she would always be thinking of Reggy.

From Stories That End Well An Adventure in Altruria——Through the Terrors of the Law——The Real Thing——The Old Partisan——Max—Or His Picture——The Stout Miss Hopkins' Bicycle——The Spellbinder——The Object of the Federation——The Little Lonely Girl——The Hero of Company G——A Miracle Play by Octave Thanet

For three months this game has gone on—we getting shabbier, wretcheder, hungrier—no one bothers—all they say is "keep off the pavement."

From Five Little Plays by Alfred Sutro

It was the second circle into which they now came—a sphere narrower than the first, and by so much more the wretcheder.

From Stories from the Italian Poets: with Lives of the Writers, Volume 1 by Dante Alighieri

In the wretchedest slum quarter of Partinico. a pinched little town near Palermo, a man lay starving last week.

From Time Magazine Archive

Last week, on the 19th anniversary of that historic Dempsey-Carpentier battle, Jersey City was the scene of another heavyweight prize fight that will probably go down in history as the wretchedest of the post-Dempsey era.

From Time Magazine Archive

I'm the wretchedest, wickedest girl on earth," says she to him, pushing back his hair, "and I'm the happiest too!

From The Man Next Door by Emerson Hough

Am I not the very wretchedest creature that breathes? and so much the poorer, for that a few hours since I deemed myself the happiest.

From The Old Man of the Mountain, The Lovecharm and Pietro of Abano Tales from the German of Tieck by Ludwig Tieck

"I'm the wretchedest wickedest girl alive," declared Agatha.

From Comedies of Courtship by Anthony Hope