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
While sharing her experience on TikTok, Duvi consciously chose not to name the venue in any of her videos – noting that, despite a series of unfortunate events, the staff had been wonderful to work with and didn’t deserve backlash over something beyond their control.
—
Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025
Unfortunately, that has been the real unfortunate part about the Dolphins’ offense in 2025.
—Miami Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
The parks headlining attraction, going out with a fizzle… Very unfortunate end to an iconic ride.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Nov. 2025
The passage of Proposition 50 is unfortunate on many levels.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unfortunate
Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025
Unfortunately, that has been the real unfortunate part about the Dolphins’ offense in 2025.
—Miami Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
The parks headlining attraction, going out with a fizzle… Very unfortunate end to an iconic ride.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Nov. 2025
The passage of Proposition 50 is unfortunate on many levels.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unfortunate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfortunate
Adjective
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The spotlight increased after a disastrous interview with CBS to promote the legendary coach’s book.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
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Second goal breaks Charlotte’s back The second half opened with a disastrous sequence for Charlotte.—
Colin Cerniglia,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Pauline Collins, the exuberant British actress who inspired women — and men, too — to do something to change their unhappy lives with her Oscar-nominated and Olivier- and Tony-winning performances in Shirley Valentine, has died.—
Lisa de los Reyes,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Nov. 2025
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That distaste didn’t hurt Spanberger and her ticket, because 18% of those unhappy voters backed her anyway.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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In his first interview since the tragic events in May, Cacique, a Spanish nickname given to a local boss, said the turncoats hoped to receive a reward for the capture of Robert Colina, whose alias was Pantera, Spanish for panther.—
Antonio Maria Delgado,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott joined the rest of his teammates in having a tough day Thursday after learning of the tragic death of defensive lineman Marshawn Kneeland, who took his own life at the end of a police chase in Frisco.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Yet a drumbeat of Mamdani’s past statements about Israel did not prove politically fatal in New York City in 2025.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
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The special explores theories about why the thieves targeted specific displays, who orchestrated this brazen operation and which fatal flaws in their plan ultimately led to their capture.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Drone footage showed catastrophic flooding that turned streets into rivers, submerged homes and overturned cars as Typhoon Kalmaegi, known locally as Tino, dumped more than a month’s worth of rain in only 24 hours in some areas.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
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However, this approach defeats the primary purpose of insurance, which is to protect against catastrophic costs in the event of an unexpected medical crisis.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unfortunate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfortunate. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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