hard-luck

adjective

ˈhärd-ˌlək 

: marked by, relating to, or experiencing bad luck or difficulty

another loss for the team's hard-luck pitcher

hard-luck stories

Synonyms of hard-luck

• unfortunate
• unhappy
• luckless
• hapless
• disastrous

Examples of hard-luck in a Sentence

a hard-luck ball club that never could get the breaks it needed

Recent Examples on the Web

There’s more than enough time for Stroud to rebound, while Daniels just needs to stay healthy after a hard-luck 2025 season. — Jeff Howe, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Caleb’s reputation Until now, Caleb has enjoyed a reputation as a hard-luck farmboy who was led on by Kenzie and never got a fair shake in the villa. — Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 1 Sep. 2026

The hard-luck righty is 0-8 in 12 starts since June 12, in part because the Orioles have provided him only 15 runs of support in those dozen outings. — ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026

Fox closed with four birdies over his last six holes — and one bogey that felt equally important — for a 2-under 68 and a one-shot victory over hard-luck Cameron Young for his first major title. — Doug Ferguson, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hard-luck

• amok
• amuck
• awestruck
• dumbstruck
• potluck
• roebuck
• unstuck
• woodchuck
• chuck
• cluck
• duck
• huck

Kids Definition

hard-luck

adjective

ˈhärd-ˌlək

: marked by, relating to, or experiencing bad luck

hard-luck stories