unfortunate

adjective

un·for·tu·nate | \ˌən-ˈfȯrch-nət,

-ˈfȯr-chə-\

Definition of unfortunate

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : not favored by fortune : unsuccessful, unlucky an unfortunate young man

b : marked or accompanied by or resulting in misfortune an unfortunate decision

2a : infelicitous, unsuitable an unfortunate choice of words

b : deplorable, regrettable an unfortunate lack of taste

unfortunate

noun

Definition of unfortunate (Entry 2 of 2)

: an unfortunate person

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about unfortunate

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Synonyms & Antonyms for unfortunate

Synonyms: Adjective

hapless, hard-luck, ill-fated, ill-starred, jinxed, luckless, star-crossed, unhappy, unlucky

Antonyms: Adjective

fortunate, happy, lucky

Examples of unfortunate in a Sentence

Adjective

She was unfortunate enough to have been chosen as an example. an unfortunate chain of events It's unfortunate that he couldn't be here for your birthday. He has an unfortunate tendency to show up late. an unfortunate choice of words

Noun

a group of poor unfortunates

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Reducing access to affordable insurance for citizens with chronic and difficult medical issues is an unfortunate side effect and will, ultimately, reduce the working productivity of a population that is growing daily. — WSJ, "Health-Care Risks Will Persist Despite AHPs," 4 July 2018 All of these story lines feel cobbled together from various parts and stray lug-nuts, and one of the unfortunate side-effects is Not Enough Michelle Pfeiffer. — Ty Burr, BostonGlobe.com, "‘Ant-Man and the Wasp’ is a Marvel marvel," 4 July 2018 For some within the administration, making investment in China less attractive is not an unfortunate side-effect of a trade war, but one of its aims. — The Economist, "A full-blown trade war between America and China looks likely," 21 June 2018 That turn of events was far from unfortunate for Squire. — Marissa Fessenden, Smithsonian, "Australian Brewers Are Making Beer From Yeast Found on a Shipwreck," 7 May 2018 That’s an impressive milestone with an unfortunate side effect: The carmakers will lose access to the federal government’s $7,500 purchase credit. — Aarian Marshall, WIRED, "This Week in the Future of Cars: All About Elon," 4 May 2018 For self-driving vehicle developers, that’s an unfortunate expectation. — Aarian Marshall, WIRED, "Home From the Honeymoon, the Self-Driving Car Industry Faces Reality," 13 July 2018 Those looking to relive some of the best moments on Instagram from Miley Cyrus are in for an unfortunate surprise. — Lauren Rearick, Teen Vogue, "Miley Cyrus Deletes All Instagram Posts, Including Those with Liam Hemsworth," 13 July 2018 The members of Joshua Salas’ family of five have endured an unfortunate slew of medical problems, but the Affordable Care Act’s protections for people with pre-existing or chronic conditions have made their situation at least manageable. — Austin Horn, San Antonio Express-News, "With ACA under attack, a family racked by illness wonders what will happen to their health coverage," 13 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

But that gentle slope has been known to cause strollers and wheelchairs to roll off as well, not to mention the intoxicated, the disoriented, wrestlers, and other unfortunates. — William Finnegan, The New Yorker, "Can Andy Byford Save the Subways?," 2 July 2018 These unfortunates spent hours each day chewing tough roots, choking down leaves and stems, munching on tiny berries and gorging on rare windfalls of meat, bone marrow and worms. — Nathan H. Lents, WSJ, "The Botch of the Human Body," 13 Apr. 2018 As the threads of society break down, the poor unfortunates who survived the initial barrage don't so much live as merely exist in the post-apocalyptic ruins. — Peter Bright, Ars Technica, "Sleep no more: Threads is coming to Blu-ray," 25 Jan. 2018 There are still unfortunates among us who have yet to lean forward and squint in disbelief at the grainy YouTube images capturing Tharpe, necklines high and hemlines low, coaxing the first, fiery licks from her Gibson SG. — Andrea Simakis, cleveland.com, "'Marie and Rosetta' brings the music and moxie of Rock Hall inductee Sister Rosetta Tharpe to Cleveland Play House (Preview)," 21 Jan. 2018 Humor is generally the province of trolls; think of the motley assemblage of unfortunates in the slovenly writers’ room on 30 Rock, and that gives you an accurate picture of the setting in which most good jokes and satire are created in America. — David Kamp, vanityfair.com, "The Years with Graydon," 7 Sep. 2017 But before that, Wilkerson would spend that year haranguing unfortunates in the Hollywood community who would go on to become targets of the blacklist, often losing their careers. — Kat Eschner, Smithsonian, "The Columnist Who Shaped Hollywood’s Most Destructive Witch Hunt," 28 July 2017 Worse yet, the percentage of such unfortunates who are unrepresented by counsel has skyrocketed in recent decades. — Jed S. Rakoff, Slate Magazine, "Do Courtroom Lawyers Make a Difference?," 31 July 2017 But before that, Wilkerson would spend that year haranguing unfortunates in the Hollywood community who would go on to become targets of the blacklist, often losing their careers. — Kat Eschner, Smithsonian, "The Hollywood Columnist Who Shaped Its Most Destructive Witch Hunt," 28 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'unfortunate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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More Definitions for unfortunate

unfortunate

noun

English Language Learners Definition of unfortunate

: an unfortunate person

See the full definition for unfortunate in the English Language Learners Dictionary

unfortunate

adjective

un·for·tu·nate | \ˌən-ˈfȯr-chə-nət

\

Kids Definition of unfortunate

1 : not fortunate : unlucky the unfortunate victim an unfortunate incident

2 : accompanied by or resulting in bad luck an unfortunate decision

3 : not proper or suitable an unfortunate remark

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Comments on unfortunate

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WORD OF THE DAY

de rigueur

required by fashion, etiquette, or custom

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