unhappy
adjective
un·hap·py
ˌən-ˈha-pē 
1
: not fortunate : unlucky
an unhappy coincidence
3
a
: causing or subject to misfortune : inauspicious
b
: infelicitous, inappropriate
an unhappy choice
unhappiness
noun
Synonyms
- bad
- blue
- brokenhearted
- cast down
- crestfallen
- dejected
- depressed
- despondent
- disconsolate
- doleful
- down
- down in the mouth
- downcast
- downhearted
- droopy
- forlorn
- gloomy
- glum
- hangdog
- heartbroken
- heartsick
- heartsore
- heavyhearted
- inconsolable
- joyless
- low
- low-spirited
- melancholic
- melancholy
- miserable
- mournful
- sad
- saddened
- sorrowful
- sorry
- woebegone
- woeful
- wretched
Examples of unhappy in a Sentence
I can see that he's unhappy, but I don't know why.
I've never seen her looking so unhappy.
For three unhappy days we were all stuck in the house because of the blizzard.
an unhappy choice of career
The movie's hero meets an unhappy fate.
Recent Examples on the Web
Increased Health Risks Men who were unhappy in their marriages had almost double the risk of having a stroke at 94% and a 21% higher risk of dying from any cause compared to those who were satisfied in their marriages, found a 2021 study.
—
Mark Travers, Forbes, 5 Oct. 2024
Folks may be unhappy to hear that there’s a $50 bump in the starting price, but Oura Ring Gen 3 units will still be available until inventory runs out.
—Victoria Song, The Verge, 3 Oct. 2024
Many school leaders were unhappy that the 2025 school budget Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed into law in July included no increase in the basic per-pupil grant — an unusual departure for an administration that has made school funding a priority.
—Paul Egan, Detroit Free Press, 25 Sep. 2024
Adkins recalls De Laurentiis initially being unhappy that Jolie — in a supporting role as a pilot who has history with Law’s title character — wears an eye patch.
—Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for unhappy 
Mark Travers, Forbes, 5 Oct. 2024
Folks may be unhappy to hear that there’s a $50 bump in the starting price, but Oura Ring Gen 3 units will still be available until inventory runs out.
—Victoria Song, The Verge, 3 Oct. 2024
Many school leaders were unhappy that the 2025 school budget Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed into law in July included no increase in the basic per-pupil grant — an unusual departure for an administration that has made school funding a priority.
—Paul Egan, Detroit Free Press, 25 Sep. 2024
Adkins recalls De Laurentiis initially being unhappy that Jolie — in a supporting role as a pilot who has history with Law’s title character — wears an eye patch.
—Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for unhappy
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unhappy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near unhappy
Cite this Entry
“Unhappy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unhappy. Accessed 14 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unhappy
adjective
un·hap·py
ˌən-ˈhap-ē
1
: not fortunate : unlucky
an unhappy mistake
2
: not cheerful : sad
3
: inappropriate
an unhappy color combination
unhappily
adverb
-ˈhap-ə-lē
unhappiness
noun
-ˈhap-i-nəs
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