wretch

wretch
    n 1: performs some wicked deed
    2: someone you feel sorry for [syn: {poor devil}, {wretch}]
    

Wretch \Wretch\, n. [OE. wrecche, AS. wrecca, wr[ae]cca, an
   exile, a wretch, fr. wrecan to drive out, punish; properly,
   an exile, one driven out, akin to AS. wr[ae]c an exile, OS.
   wrekkio a stranger, OHG. reccheo an exile. See {Wreak}, v.
   t.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. A miserable person; one profoundly unhappy. "The wretch
      that lies in woe." --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

            Hovered thy spirit o'er thy sorrowing son,
            Wretch even then, life's journey just begun?
                                                  --Cowper.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. One sunk in vice or degradation; a base, despicable
      person; a vile knave; as, a profligate wretch.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: Wretch is sometimes used by way of slight or ironical
         pity or contempt, and sometimes to express tenderness;
         as we say, poor thing. "Poor wretch was never frighted
         so." --Drayton.
         [1913 Webster]
    

63 Moby Thesaurus words for "wretch":
      Bowery bum, beachcomber, beggar, beggarly fellow, blackguard,
      blighter, budmash, bum, bummer, caitiff, cur, derelict, devil, dog,
      drifter, drunkard, good-for-naught, good-for-nothing, hobo,
      human wreck, knave, lowlife, martyr, mauvais sujet, mean wretch,
      mucker, no-good, object of compassion, pauvre diable, pilgarlic,
      poor creature, poor devil, prey, rapscallion, rascal, rogue,
      rotter, sad case, sad sack, scalawag, scoundrel, scum,
      skid-row bum, skunk, snake, stiff, stinkard, stinker, sufferer,
      sundowner, swagman, toad, tramp, truant, vag, vagabond, vagrant,
      vaurien, victim, villain, wastrel, worm, worthless fellow