what a misery

USAGE SUMMARY

"what a misery" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is an expression used to indicate that something is very bad, unpleasant, or depressing. For example: "It was raining all weekend, what a misery!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

[Starts to sing] "Living off daddy's plastic was so fantastic, just got a J.o.b. what a misery, I just wanna break free".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

One of her children has that condition, and radiates so much happiness and sanity that I was continually reminded of what a misery guts I have been at various times of my life.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

What a misery for your parents....and me.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

But what an old misery he could be.

The Economist

To what a state of misery and infamy must a people be reduced!

Yale University

What a cascade of misery this disease has brought, dogging civilization's progress like a bad conscience.

The New York Times - Health

I regularly compute what I call a Misery Index.

Forbes

Did their genes hibernate through the Soviet years aware of what a life of potatoes and misery does to a woman's looks?

The New York Times - Magazine

During this time, he recorded two singles for Pappy Daily on D Records, "Man With the Blues"/"The Storm Has Just Begun" and "What a Way to Live"/"Misery Mansion".

Wikipedia

"Capitalism is the best system in the world, but also extremely frustrating...A nurse, whose dedication to her craft saves lives and brings hope to the hopeless, will make a fraction of what a crappy banker, who brings misery to everyone she encounters, earns".

Huffington Post

What misery – a recession and the urgent problem of climate change at the same time.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "what a misery" to express strong feelings of unhappiness or disappointment about a situation, but be mindful of the context to avoid sounding overly dramatic or insincere.

Common error

Avoid using "what a misery" in formal or professional contexts, as it can come across as too informal or emotional. Opt for more neutral or objective language to describe negative situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what a misery" functions as an exclamatory expression used to convey a sense of disappointment, unhappiness, or frustration about a particular situation. This is supported by Ludwig AI's assessment that the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Lifestyle

20%

Opinion

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "what a misery" is an exclamatory phrase used to express disappointment or frustration. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage, particularly in news and media, lifestyle, and opinion contexts. While effective in informal settings to convey negative emotions, it is best to avoid this phrase in formal or professional writing where a more neutral tone is appropriate. Alternatives like "what a shame" or "how unfortunate" may be more suitable in such cases.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what a shame

This alternative expresses regret or disappointment about a situation.

what a pity

Similar to "what a shame", this expresses sorrow or regret.

what a disaster

This phrase emphasizes the catastrophic nature of an event.

what a nightmare

This implies an extremely unpleasant or frightening experience.

what a plight

This refers to a difficult or unfortunate situation.

what a predicament

This highlights a tricky or difficult situation.

what a catastrophe

Similar to "what a disaster", this conveys a sense of great misfortune.

what a tragedy

This emphasizes the sorrowful and serious nature of an event.

how unfortunate

This is a more formal way of expressing disappointment or bad luck.

how dreadful

This implies something is extremely unpleasant or of very poor quality.

FAQs

How can I use "what a misery" in a sentence?

You can use "what a misery" to express strong feelings of unhappiness or disappointment, for example, "The rain ruined our picnic, what a misery!"

What can I say instead of "what a misery"?

You can use alternatives like "what a shame", "what a disaster", or "how unfortunate" depending on the context.

Is "what a misery" appropriate for formal writing?

No, "what a misery" is generally considered too informal for formal writing. Opt for more neutral expressions like "how unfortunate" or "what a disappointment".

When is it best to use "what a misery"?

"What a misery" is best used in informal settings to express personal disappointment or frustration. Be mindful of your audience and the context to avoid appearing overly negative or dramatic.