Misery loves company.
Misery loves company.
Meaning in plain English
The saying gives misery a desire for company. It can describe seeking shared understanding or, critically, wanting others to share unhappiness.
Example
A reader distinguishes a request for understanding from an attempt to make others feel worse.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The brief personification does not say which form of company is intended. The supplied gloss selects the more hostile reading, but seeking support is not the same as wishing harm on others. A useful explanation keeps that distinction rather than judging all distressed people alike.
When to use it
Use it to examine different motives for seeking company during distress.
Keep in mind
Unhappiness does not prove a wish to harm others, and seeking support is not a fault.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-05. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Source
- Contributor-provided proverb reference
Supplied reference A; unit 497; PDF page 73
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Preserved as printed; independently unverified. - Historical coordinate
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