unhappily

adverb

un·​hap·​pi·​ly ˌən-ˈha-pə-lē 

1

: unfortunately sense 1

unhappily, medicine has not yet found a cure

—Diana Trilling

2

: in an unhappy manner : without pleasure

practiced law unhappily for a few years

Synonyms

• agonizingly
• bitterly
• dolefully
• dolorously
• grievously
• hard
• hardly
• inconsolably
• lugubriously
• mournfully
• painfully
• plaintively
• regretfully
• resentfully
• ruefully
• sadly
• sorely
• sorrowfully
• wailfully
• woefully
• wretchedly

Examples of unhappily in a Sentence

They were unhappily married for two years.

an unhappily married couple being counseled by a professional

Recent Examples on the Web

Brown portrayed Louis as dim, unrefined, lackadaisical, unhappily married and disinterested in much outside of boxing, sleeping, fishing, showgirls and Jimmie Lunceford swing songs. —Tom Stanton, Detroit Free Press, 12 Feb. 2024

Democrats in New York marked the 51st anniversary of Roe v. Wade this week, noting unhappily the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of that landmark decision a year and a half ago. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 24 Jan. 2024

Joey King stars as the assistant to a movie star (Efron) and unhappily discovers that her mother (Kidman) has a secret romance going on with her boss. —Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 15 May 2024

When the Nazis ask Lelong for dresses for their wives and girlfriends, Dior objects but unhappily complies. —Lili Loofbourow, Washington Post, 14 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1