wretch
gb/ɹˈɛt͡ʃ/ us/ɹˈɛt͡ʃ/
B2
English
~ 4500
szerencsétlen, nyomorult, gazember, aljas alak
NOUN
B2
1
nyomorult
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a wretch
The poor wretch had lost everything in the fire.
Szegény szerencsétlen mindent elvesztett a tűzben.
They found a half-starved wretch huddled in the alley.
Találtak egy félig éhen halt szerencsétlent, aki az egyik sikátorban kuporgott.
She felt pity for the wretch begging by the roadside.
Learner examples
The poor wretch was cold and hungry.
Szegény szerencsétlen fázott és éhes volt.
A wretch sat alone in the park.
Egy szerencsétlen ült egyedül a parkban.
He gave food to the wretch.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'wretch' with 'retch', which means to vomit.
Meaning
A person in deep misfortune
Collocations
poor wretch
|miserable wretch
|unhappy wretch
|helpless wretch
Synonyms
unfortunate (Focuses on bad luck rather than the person's overall state of misery.)
|
miserable person (Emphasizes emotional suffering more than general misfortune.)
Antonyms
fortunate person (Someone who is lucky and well-off, the opposite of a suffering wretch.)
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A person who is very unlucky or in great trouble.
A person who is in a very bad situation, often suffering or miserable.
NOUN
B2
2
gazember
B2
aljas alak
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a wretch
You lying wretch, you betrayed us all!
Te hazug gazember, mindannyiunkat elárultál!
That wretch stole my purse and ran away.
Az a gazember ellopta a pénztárcámat, és elszaladt.
The king banished the treacherous wretch from the court.
Learner examples
The wretch took her money.
A gazember elvette a pénzét.
He called the thief a wretch.
Gazembernek nevezte a tolvajt.
The wretch lied to his friends.
Meaning
A person deserving strong dislike
Collocations
lying wretch
|evil wretch
|cowardly wretch
Synonyms
villain (More dramatic and often used for fictional or extreme wrongdoers.)
|
scoundrel (Similar meaning but often more old-fashioned or humorous.)
Antonyms
gentleman (In older usage, a man of good character and manners, opposite of a contemptible wretch.)
Themes
emotions
|social relations
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A person who is very bad or not nice.
A person considered unpleasant, dishonest, or deserving of contempt.
Grammar
Dictionary form
wretch
IPA
GB/ɹˈɛt͡ʃ/
US/ɹˈɛt͡ʃ/
Syllables & stress
wretch (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (wretch)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: wretch
- Plural: wretches
Word family
Forms
wretches
noun
Core family
wretched
adjective
Related words
wretchedly
adverb
wretchedness
noun
Expressions
miserable wretch
1/mˈɪzɚəbəl ɹˈɛt͡ʃ/
fixed phrase
A very unhappy or pitiful person
A person who is extremely unhappy or suffering greatly.
Examples
- That miserable wretch has been living on the streets for months.
- She felt like a miserable wretch after losing her job.
poor wretch
1/pˈʊɹ ɹˈɛt͡ʃ/
fixed phrase
An unfortunate or pitiful person
Used to show that someone is in a very bad situation and you feel sorry for them.
Examples
- The poor wretch had been wandering without food for days.
- I gave the poor wretch some coins and bread.
unhappy wretch
1/ʌnhˈæpi ɹˈɛt͡ʃ/
fixed phrase
A very sad or unfortunate person
Someone who is very sad or unlucky.
Examples
- The unhappy wretch sat alone by the fire.
- He is an unhappy wretch with no friends.