at their misery

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at their misery" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express a situation where someone is observing or reflecting on the suffering of others, but it lacks clarity and context. Example: "The charity organization was established to help those at their misery, providing support and resources to alleviate their suffering."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Whenever people broke down and wept in front of her, she'd just stand there staring at their misery with a glib, uncomprehending blankness, as if she was Michael Gove or something.

The Guardian - Opinion

The public sense is that by which we are pleased with the happiness of others, and are uneasy at their misery.

SEP

Bless their hearts, they just want to entertain us and here we are, once again, laughing at their misery.

Huffington Post

Laugh at their misery.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The old veterans of the army henceforth laughed at their miseries, and dubbed themselves grimly, "Lee's Miserables!" The book had worked its way into American popular culture.

The New York Times

Passengers with time on their hands -- and there are lots of them these days -- can at least eat their misery away as delay follows delay.

The New York Times - Arts

Witnesses have included public figures describing their misery at the hands of the tabloids and journalists describing the sometimes outrageous and illegal methods they used to get their stories.

The New York Times

The Boston Red Sox put the Rockies out of their misery at Coors Field on Sunday night, winning 4-3, to capture their second World Series title in four seasons with an emphatic four-game sweep.

The New York Times

And so here we have, inevitably, a handsome if not unduly demanding big-screen adaptation, directed by Vincent Pérez (still best known as an actor, although this is his third feature credit as director), and starring Brendan Gleeson and Emma Thompson as the Quangels, the dour, unhappy couple who channel their misery at the death of their son into their small acts of subversion.

The Guardian - Film

Reading the tank-style tread marks of the excavation earth-movers today, one is forced to conclude that Rudy Giuliani and Ed Koch are not the only mayors who would just as soon have ended the charade by mercifully putting the Landmarks Preservation Commission and the walking dead out of their misery or at least slipping them into the sleep mode the way you can a computer.

The New York Times

But the visual intensity and the relentless degradation visited on the characters begins to feel prurient and dishonest: the director seems to take an unseemly pleasure in their misery and at the same time to congratulate himself for having the guts to confront it.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more precise language to describe the specific type of interaction with someone's suffering. Instead of "at their misery", try "witnessing their distress" or "responding to their pain" for greater clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "at" to describe the location of someone's misery; it's not a physical place. Instead, focus on what action is being taken in relation to their suffering.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at their misery" functions as a prepositional phrase, but its usage is grammatically questionable. As Ludwig AI explains, it's not correct and doesn't convey a clear meaning. It attempts to indicate a state or location related to suffering.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "at their misery" presents grammatical challenges and lacks clarity in standard English. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is not correct. While it attempts to describe a scenario involving someone's suffering, it's best to opt for clearer and more precise alternatives such as "in their suffering", "during their hardship", or "witnessing their distress". Grammatical correctness improves with options like "responding to their pain" or "reacting to their sorrow". This ensures your writing is both accurate and easily understood, avoiding potential misinterpretations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in the face of their misery

Emphasizes confronting someone's suffering directly.

seeing them suffer

Directly states the experience of watching someone endure pain.

witnessing their distress

Focuses on the act of seeing their suffering, highlighting the observer's role.

responding to their pain

Emphasizes actions taken to address someone's suffering.

observing their hardship

Emphasizes the act of watching someone's difficulties.

confronting their despair

Highlights dealing with someone's lack of hope.

in their time of need

Shifts the focus to providing help during a difficult period.

reacting to their sorrow

Focuses on the emotional response to someone's sadness.

during their affliction

Highlights the period when someone is suffering from an illness or problem.

amidst their adversity

Focuses on the context of facing challenges or misfortune.

FAQs

How can I use a more grammatically sound phrase instead of "at their misery"?

Consider alternatives such as "in their suffering", "during their hardship", or "witnessing their distress" depending on the intended meaning and context.

What does "at their misery" imply in a sentence?

The phrase suggests a location or state where someone's suffering exists, but it's grammatically awkward. It's better to use phrases that clearly express interaction or observation of the suffering.

Is "at their misery" considered formal or informal language?

Due to its awkward grammatical structure, "at their misery" is generally unsuitable for formal writing and should be replaced with a more precise and standard expression.

What are some ways to describe someone's reaction to another person's suffering, instead of using "at their misery"?

You could use phrases such as "reacting to their sorrow", "responding to their pain", or "confronting their despair" to convey different aspects of the response.