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
The police were there to check the workers’ permits and IDs and apprehend anyone working illegally, and Nur was among those unfortunate Palestinians denied work permits for the Zionist market, either due to previous arrests for resisting the Occupation or because a relative had been arrested.
—
Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026
Call this unfortunate, emerging subgenre the anti-coming-of-age story.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026
The timing of this assessment is unfortunate because the apparent risk will lessen as his recovery progresses and his return to performance over the next few months becomes clear.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 11 Mar. 2026
That unfortunate ending was more than enough.
—Sam Amick, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unfortunate
Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026
Call this unfortunate, emerging subgenre the anti-coming-of-age story.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026
The timing of this assessment is unfortunate because the apparent risk will lessen as his recovery progresses and his return to performance over the next few months becomes clear.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 11 Mar. 2026
That unfortunate ending was more than enough.
—Sam Amick, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unfortunate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfortunate
Adjective
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And as someone who has done this a long time, Musselman understands that the responsibility for the team’s disastrous stretch run ultimately falls squarely on his shoulders.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
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Noem’s dissmissal comes after she was berated by lawmakers on Capitol Hill over a series of disastrous blunders by her department, including the killings of two American citizens by border patrol agents in Minneapolis and apparent attempts by DHS to stifle investigations into the shootings.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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MacFarlane is also said to have faced personal threats from MAGA supporters unhappy with his coverage of the Justice Department.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
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Earlier this season, Marchment struggled mightily — and seemed plenty unhappy — with the Seattle Kraken, but his trade to the Blue Jackets in late December revitalized his season.—
Harman Dayal,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Frankenstein is nominated for nine Academy Awards, including nods for Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor, the latter for Jacob Elordi's portrayal of the tragic monster.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Mar. 2026
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The novel refuses to package trans lives as tragic or easily digestible.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The man’s death marks Kansas City’s 24th homicide of 2026, compared to 26 at this time last year, according to data tracked by The Star, which includes fatal police shootings.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
11 Mar. 2026
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According to the city's police department, the fatal accident occurred at 1990 S Flamingo Road.—
Ana Maria Soler,
CBS News,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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And despite volatility across markets, oil prices don’t seem to be creeping back toward catastrophic levels.—
Tiana Lowe Doescher,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
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And in some cases, going up against her has resulted in a nearly catastrophic loss in follower count.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unfortunate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfortunate. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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