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

• bitterly
• sadly
• sorrowfully
• painfully
• mournfully

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

In season 3 of The Gilded Age, Gladys unhappily marries the Duke of Buckingham. —Christopher Rudolph, People.com, 11 Aug. 2025

One of the youngest of the MacKenzie brood (and often seen with sister Janet), Jocasta Cameron is sometimes callously honest, perpetually jealous of the attention Ellen gets, and unhappily married to an old man. —Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2025

These checks on presidential powers have not only been heeded by the men in power, however unhappily, but have become part of case law. —Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 4 June 2025

Some lived unhappily at the club, unable to maximise their talent or contribute to success. —Carl Anka, New York Times, 16 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for unhappily

• happily