1. a state of ill-being due to affliction or misfortune (Freq. 1) - the misery and wretchedness of those slums is intolerable • Syn: misery, miserableness • Derivationally related forms: miserable (for: miserableness), wretched • Hypernyms: ill-being • Hyponyms: concentration camp, living death, suffering, woe 2. the character of being uncomfortable and unpleasant - the wretchedness for which these prisons became known - the grey wretchedness of the rain • Derivationally related forms: wretched • Hypernyms: discomfort, uncomfortableness 3. the quality of being poor and inferior and sorry - he has compiled a record second to none in its wretchedness • Derivationally related forms: wretched • Hypernyms: inferiority, low quality