as in sadly
by bad fortune or luck
Unfortunately, you've just missed her.
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Recent Examples of unfortunately
In addition to rehabbing his achilles, which is a very rough injury itself, Haliburton’s recovery has been slowed by a bout with shingles — in his face — a horrible disease that will probably make for good TV, somewhat fortunately and very unfortunately.
—
Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 17 Apr. 2026
Dahl’s books are fanciful and imaginative, but also dark, cynical, and mean (and, unfortunately, often reflected his real-life ugliness), spinning stories in which gruesome and unpleasant fates befell rotten kids, and adults were frequently selfish, cruel, and not to be trusted.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2026
Dragonfly won’t be near those huge methane lakes, unfortunately, but there is still much to see on this frozen world.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 10 Apr. 2026
That, unfortunately, may be the most fragile hope of all—even more unlikely than the ceasefire holding.
—Pegah Banihashemi, Time, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unfortunately
Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 17 Apr. 2026
Dahl’s books are fanciful and imaginative, but also dark, cynical, and mean (and, unfortunately, often reflected his real-life ugliness), spinning stories in which gruesome and unpleasant fates befell rotten kids, and adults were frequently selfish, cruel, and not to be trusted.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2026
Dragonfly won’t be near those huge methane lakes, unfortunately, but there is still much to see on this frozen world.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 10 Apr. 2026
That, unfortunately, may be the most fragile hope of all—even more unlikely than the ceasefire holding.
—Pegah Banihashemi, Time, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unfortunately
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfortunately
Adverb
-
Of course, that sadly isn't possible.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
19 Apr. 2026
-
In a recent appearance on the High Performance YouTube channel, the former Ferrari boss and FIA president described an interaction with the Brazilian legend that could’ve drastically altered the course of Scuderia Ferrari, the sport, and sadly, Senna’s own life.—
Jerry Perez,
The Drive,
16 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Their answer to having to tolerate difference is whatever means are necessary to stop liberalization, and lamentably, our Bill of Rights and governmental checks on the executive mean that taking a jack hammer to our nation’s foundation is a necessary means to a repugnant end.—
Rafael Perez,
Oc Register,
14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unfortunately.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfortunately. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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