wretch

/retʃ/

Thân thiện

A poor wretch huddled in the cold alley, shivering.

Definition

Noun: 1. A person who is in a very unfortunate or miserable state; someone deserving of pity or sympathy. This meaning emphasizes the person's suffering or pitiable condition. 2. A person of bad or despicable character; someone who performs wicked or contemptible deeds. This meaning emphasizes moral reprehensibility.

Usage and Examples

• As a pitiable person:
  • The poor wretch had lost everything in the fire.
  • She felt like a lonely wretch after her friends left.
• As a contemptible person:
  • That wretch stole money from the charity collection.
  • "Get out, you wretch!" she shouted at the dishonest salesman.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• The word can carry a strong emotional charge, ranging from deep pity to intense scorn, depending on context.
• It is sometimes used in a slightly archaic or literary tone, especially when expressing pity.
• In exclamations, it often directly addresses the person:

Variants and Related Words

• Wretched (adjective):
  • In a state of severe distress or misery. They lived in wretched poverty.
  • Of poor quality; very bad. The hotel room was in a wretched condition.
  • Despicable or contemptible. It was a wretched thing to do.

Synonyms

• For the pitiable sense: poor soul, unfortunate, miserable creature.
• For the contemptible sense: scoundrel, villain, rogue, rascal, miscreant.

Idioms and Fixed Phrases

• Poor wretch: A common collocation emphasizing pity.
• Miserable wretch: Can intensify either the pitiable or the contemptible sense, depending on context.

Học thuật

Noun

1. someone you feel sorry for
2. performs some wicked deed

Từ đồng nghĩa

• poor devil