ˌən-ˈfȯrch-nət
1
as in disastrous
bringing about ruin or misfortune
an unfortunate chain of events destroyed the business
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unhappy
having, prone to, or marked by bad luck
up to that point in her life she had been unfortunate in love
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in tragic
of a kind to cause great distress
an unfortunate choice of words that would later prove to be embarrassing for the talk show host
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unfortunate
Wisconsin is known not only as the America's Dairyland, but also has the unfortunate reputation of being the home to a couple of high-profile American serial killers.
—
Angelika Ytuarte, jsonline.com, 6 Oct. 2025
But the game didn't come without a price, as the organization learned about the unfortunate injury diagnosis for running back Antonio Gibson on Monday following his departure from Sunday's game.
—Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025
In this case, the date had been held and removed from availability for 11 months before the unfortunate passing.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 4 Oct. 2025
The bill is known by the rather unfortunate acronym NOPE.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unfortunate
Angelika Ytuarte, jsonline.com, 6 Oct. 2025
But the game didn't come without a price, as the organization learned about the unfortunate injury diagnosis for running back Antonio Gibson on Monday following his departure from Sunday's game.
—Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025
In this case, the date had been held and removed from availability for 11 months before the unfortunate passing.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 4 Oct. 2025
The bill is known by the rather unfortunate acronym NOPE.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unfortunate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfortunate
Adjective
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Moulton’s Senate primary rationale, stated or otherwise, rests on the enduring public image of former President Joe Biden, who withdrew from his 2024 reelection bid after a disastrous debate against Trump revealed limitations of being in office at age 82 and beyond.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Oct. 2025
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No one has been sent home or saved because of a disastrous technical.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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He was told by Talent Relations that the creative team was unhappy with him.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025
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The now-37-year-old wasn’t unhappy with her job.—
Mike Winters,
CNBC,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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This film largely focuses on Desai’s story – including a tragic twist at the end of his life.—
Catherine E. Shoichet,
CNN Money,
4 Oct. 2025
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She's also found ways for students to help in tragic circumstances before.—
John Wisely,
Freep.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
But unleash the foley artists (sound designers), and the flora's dripping slime and ominous pulsing are infinitely more threatening, as a soldier learns to fatal cost later in the season.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
8 Oct. 2025
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There were 55 students on the school bus when the fatal crash occurred, none of whom were injured, police said.—
Abigail Adams,
PEOPLE,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The regulation is designed to give farmers a stronger negotiating position so that powerful companies in the food supply chain do not impose unfavorable conditions.—
Pilar Arias,
FOXNews.com,
9 Oct. 2025
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The list below shows the entire scope of players with favorable and unfavorable matchups.—
KC Joyner,
New York Times,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The exec expressed remarkably few regrets over a chapter that was, by any measure, catastrophic for the bank and the women Epstein victimized.—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
8 Oct. 2025
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When Gray has missed time, the results without him have been catastrophic against Miami and Texas A&M.—
Pete Sampson,
New York Times,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unfortunate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfortunate. Accessed 11 Oct. 2025.
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