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
Last season the club’s Premier League and Champions League chances were impacted by unfortunate injuries, which left them short of replacements at key moments.
—
Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 6 July 2025
When Palestinian voices are suppressed or ignored, the global community is deprived of their ideas for ending violence long viewed as unfortunate but inevitable.
—Micah Danney, New York Daily News, 5 July 2025
And in the process of owning your role in the unfortunate circumstances, remember, never blame your superior or the board in a public forum.
—Carol Geffner, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
While Malle is clearly qualified to oversee editorial content, the timing is unfortunate for her chances.
—Laurie Brookins, HollywoodReporter, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unfortunate
Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 6 July 2025
When Palestinian voices are suppressed or ignored, the global community is deprived of their ideas for ending violence long viewed as unfortunate but inevitable.
—Micah Danney, New York Daily News, 5 July 2025
And in the process of owning your role in the unfortunate circumstances, remember, never blame your superior or the board in a public forum.
—Carol Geffner, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
While Malle is clearly qualified to oversee editorial content, the timing is unfortunate for her chances.
—Laurie Brookins, HollywoodReporter, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unfortunate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfortunate
Adjective
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And yes, it must also be said that domestic and feral cats have been disastrous to the world's biodiversity, having contributed to the extinction of 40 bird and 21 mammal species – 26% of the extinctions in these groups – since the 1600s.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
14 July 2025
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Hunt was the site of particularly disastrous flooding early in the morning on July 4, with officials saying the river swelled more than 20 feet in less than an hour and ultimately killed at least 103 people countywide, including dozens of children at a riverside summer camp called Camp Mystic.—
July 13,
CBS News,
13 July 2025
Adjective
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That's become a new line of attack for the Trump administration, which is already unhappy with the Fed for not moving more aggressively to lower interest rates.—
Scott Horsley,
NPR,
14 July 2025
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Speculation is that Ferrari is unhappy with Vasseur's performance, although these rumors have been shut down by Vasseur, Lewis Hamilton, and Charles Leclerc.—
Saajan Jogia,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 July 2025
Adjective
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This summer, in particular, has been defined by a tragic surge in deadly flash floods across the United States, underscoring the escalating volatility of our warming world.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
20 July 2025
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Although authorities said a criminal investigation is underway, a police spokesperson told the DPA that the force is currently considering the incident a tragic accident.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
People.com,
20 July 2025
Adjective
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Priya allegedly injected her business partner with a fatal overdose of sedatives, Joseph said.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
15 July 2025
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In the aftermath of Hinton's arrest, members of his family distanced themselves from his actions and instead hired an attorney to conduct a review of the fatal police shooting of his son, Ryan Hinton.—
David Ferrara,
The Enquirer,
14 July 2025
Adjective
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These unpredictable, and often downright unfavorable, conditions are already impacting event attendance.—
Shawn Pierce,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
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There are other allusions to unfavorable animal traits in humans.—
Mindy Weisberger,
CNN Money,
18 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unfortunate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfortunate. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
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