Does set out, dead miserable (8)
I believe the answer is:
desolate
'miserable' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'does set out dead' is the wordplay.
'set out' indicates an anagram.
'dead' becomes 'late' ('late' can be similar in meaning to 'dead').
'does' anagrammed gives 'deso'.
'deso'+'late'='DESOLATE'
(Other definitions for desolate that I've seen before include "Forlorn and unhappy" , "Bleak, deserted" , "Forlorn and abandoned" , "Wretched, unhappy" , "Forlorn - so elated (anag)" .)