ILL-STARRED Synonyms: 40 Similar and Opposite Words

ill-starred

adjective

ˈil-ˈstärd

Definition of ill-starred

as in unhappy

having, prone to, or marked by bad luck an ill-starred attempt to circumnavigate the earth in a balloon

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for ill-starred

Adjective

Even Republicans appear to be increasingly unhappy with the prolonged conflict.

— Mark Osborne, CBS News, 29 July 2026
But Buckingham Palace staff are reportedly unhappy again about the idea of accommodating the duke.

— Martha Ross, Mercury News, 28 July 2026

Definition of unhappy

Adjective

That is unfortunate for wagon loyalists, but the V60 gets to leave without an awkward farewell edition or cosmetic gimmicks.

— Josh Max, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
This is especially unfortunate since there’s currently more content mastered in Dolby Vision HDR than in HDR10+, the competing high dynamic range standard.

— BestReviews, Mercury News, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of unfortunate

Adjective

Following a disastrous 3-14 season, the Jets selected three players in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

— Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 1 Aug. 2026
Experiments In Offline Dating by Kat Mackenzie Maya Davis travels to Ireland to find love the old-fashioned way for her dating podcast, only to endure the most disastrous blind date of her life with a gruff sheep farmer.

— Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 31 July 2026

Definition of disastrous

Adjective

This year, the final was between Kerry, historically the sport’s most successful side, and Mayo, one of Ireland’s smaller counties by population and, in football terms, the most luckless.

— Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 27 July 2026
The one in which his tiny team of negotiators surrendered to the radicals ruling that luckless nation.

— Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 20 June 2026

Definition of luckless

Adjective

The Tigers had an exhibition against Southeastern College, and sure enough, Skubal mowed down those hapless young hitters.

— Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026
The movie focuses on a murder of a shepherd unraveled by his flock, which aids a somewhat hapless rural policeman in solving the crime.

— David Folkenflik, NPR, 23 July 2026

Definition of hapless

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Browse Nearby Words

ills

ill-starred

ill-tempered

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“Ill-starred.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ill-starred. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of ill-starred

adjective

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