un·hap·py
ˌən-ˈha-pē 
1
a
: not cheerful or glad : sad, wretched
didn't know why the child was so unhappy
I left the store an unhappy [=dissatisfied] customer.
—often used with with, about, or thatThey were unhappy with the way things turned out.
The children were unhappy about going back to school.
I'm unhappy that my best friend is moving.
b
: causing or involving feelings of sadness : not pleasant or joyful
an unhappy marriage/childhood
spent several unhappy hours stuck at the airport
2
: not fortunate : unlucky
an unhappy coincidence
3
a
: causing or subject to misfortune : inauspicious
a particularly unhappy moment for the story to leak
b
: infelicitous, inappropriate
an unhappy choice
unhappiness
noun
Examples of unhappy in a Sentence
Adjective
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
Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
There would be an unhappy outcome of the show itself to face too.
—Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 10 June 2026
Most Americans today are unhappy not only with the parties but with the system itself.
—Frederic J. Fransen, Boston Herald, 9 June 2026
Carting around unhappy campers in 100-degree weather and squeezing work into a shorter window is not exactly being poolside with a marg.
—Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for unhappy
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
Earlier this week, the rumor mill suggested that Punk was unhappy in WWE and could be on his way out.
—Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
There would be an unhappy outcome of the show itself to face too.
—Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 10 June 2026
Most Americans today are unhappy not only with the parties but with the system itself.
—Frederic J. Fransen, Boston Herald, 9 June 2026
Carting around unhappy campers in 100-degree weather and squeezing work into a shorter window is not exactly being poolside with a marg.
—Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for unhappy
Cite this Entry
“Unhappy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unhappy. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
