Stefani co-wrote the song with Justin Tranter, Julia Michaels, Mattias Larsson, and Robin Frediksson, with the latter two serving as the producers.

It was filmed at the vacated Sears, Roebuck & Company Mail Order Building in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, and features Stefani performing the song while she wears various outfits in the abandoned premises.

Immediately following the completion of "Make Me Like You", Stefani wrote "Misery" with Justin Tranter, Julia Michaels, Mattias Larsson, and Robin Frediksson; however, unlike the recording sessions for her previous albums, the songwriting process was significantly shorter, which she opined was because everything should be simple.

[8] On April 22 of the same year, Interscope issued a digital EP and included three remixes of "Misery" created by disc jockeys Lincoln Jesser, Steven Redant, and Division 4 accompanied by Matt Consola.

[2] The upbeat composition is accompanied by a samba and heavy percussion, which was compared to the material on No Doubt's 2012 studio album, Push and Shove, by Sarah Grant from Rolling Stone.

[11] As described by Dee Lockett of Vulture, "Misery" contains: "some synths, a funky bassline, and well-placed hand claps to disguise the pain.

"[14] Nicki Gostin, writing for the New York Daily News, questioned the song's subject matter, stating "it's not clear who she's crooning about — ex Gavin Rossdale or new love Blake Shelton.

[17] Stefani sings: "Hurry up, come see me / Put me out of my misery", which shows the singer debating whether she wants to relive the pain or experience the pleasure.

[20] Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine noted that Stefani's ex-husband Gavin Rossdale was not the track's subject, despite the misleading use of the word "Misery".

Thomas Hall of The Japan Times described "Misery" as "the type of anthem that could possibly provide Stefani with her comeback hit.

"[21] Slant Magazine's Cinquemani called the track a "standout" on the parent album,[19] and Mashable's Emily Blake agreed, challenging the listener to "try not to get hooked".

[25] Regarding the same subject matter, Lucas Villa from AXS praised Stefani for: "continu[ing] her streak of solid pop tunes by turning her confessional lyrics into completely delectable hooks".

[28] A group of critics from PopMatters reviewed the recording in their "Singles Going Steady" column, with the site's consensus reading: "'Misery' isn't a total misfire, but it's formulaic diva-pop effervescence does little to convince you that music's mainstream was missing Stefani."

[37] When announced as the album's third official single in April 2016, "Misery" was shopped to hot adult contemporary radio, starting on May 23 of the same year.

[39] On July 30, the single reached a new peak at number 34, her second lowest entry on the chart, behind 2005's "Luxurious" with American rapper Slim Thug.

The singer then wears a garden-inspired sheer dress and a "flower crown", as darkened shots of her face also are shown among a trio of background dancers.

[50] As the song's pre-chorus commences, Stefani is shown in a Gothic, black dress, sitting on a metallic silver couch, where she pretends to faint.

The next chorus shows Stefani in a black bob wig, "walk[ing] effortlessly down some stairs in patent leather, thigh-high stilettos.

"[53] The song's bridge shows Stefani wearing a black and white leotard with thigh-high silver boots, sitting on a stool.

The song's final chorus has Stefani riding a bicycle through a brightly-lit parking garage,[54] before she returns to the smoke machine and, once again, falls to the ground.

[11] At the 2016 Ibiza Music Video Festival held in the city of the same name, makeup artist Gregory Arlt and hairstylist Danilo won the award for Best Hair & Make Up.

[67] The promotional lyric video for "Misery" appeared as part of a backdrop for the performance, while an accompanying band provided live instrumentation.

For the version on her This Is What the Truth Feels Like Tour, she wore a red corset designed by The Blonds, Mariel Haenn, and Rob Zangardi.

Backup singers and dancers, in addition to a "psychedelic lighting scheme", joined Stefani as she sang it in front a live audience.