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

That may explain why Trump is unhappy with the cost of borrowing.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026
Let’s see where the line is drawn, but someone will be unhappy.

— Graham Scott, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of unhappy

Adjective

Hall was excellent for Newcastle against Liverpool in the clubs’ season opener on Sunday, and unfortunate to concede a stoppage-time penalty for the equaliser.

— Andy Naylor, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
People have an unfortunate tendency to make this song sound dour, but Garcia fills it with energy.

— Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of unfortunate

Adjective

Harry Kane Kane was England’s clutch player at the World Cup, scoring a late double to avoid a disastrous early exit against DR Congo and netting what turned out to be the decisive goal from the penalty spot in England’s epic 3-2 win over Mexico.

— Cerys Jones, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
That area also roughly would coincide with the stock’s post-earnings close from May 28, after a disastrous revenue miss.

— Schaeffer's Investment Research, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 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

Next, how would the hapless interventions described above shrink prices that are an effect of incredibly sophisticated global cooperation?

— John Tamny, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Most glaring is the disparity between the top-tier clinical protocols and the logistics, which are more hapless than flawless.

— Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 8 Aug. 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 28 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of ill-starred

adjective

Example Sentences

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