Synonyms of unfortunate

unfortunate

adjective

ˌən-ˈfȯrch-nət

1

as in disastrous

bringing about ruin or misfortune

an unfortunate chain of events destroyed the business

Synonyms & Similar Words

• disastrous
• fatal
• catastrophic
• destructive
• damning
• calamitous
• fateful
• ruinous
• adverse
• apocalyptic
• detrimental
• hapless
• damaging
• luckless
• cataclysmal
• harmful
• injurious
• pernicious
• deleterious
• prejudicial
• baneful
• hurtful
• ill-fated
• evil
• ill-starred
• noxious
• ill
• baleful

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fortunate
• happy
• lucky
• fortuitous
• providential
• fair
• promising
• hopeful
• optimistic
• encouraging
• fluky
• golden
• bright
• auspicious
• propitious
• heartening
• rosy
• upbeat
• rose-colored

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

• unhappy
• disastrous
• catastrophic
• unlucky
• unfavorable
• hapless
• luckless
• tragic
• adverse
• hard-luck
• doomed
• ill-fated
• ill-starred
• jinxed
• inauspicious
• star-crossed
• snakebit
• damned
• calamitous
• unpromising
• ill
• untoward
• accursed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fortunate
• happy
• lucky
• privileged
• favorable
• gifted
• fair
• favored
• promising
• golden
• blessed
• auspicious
• propitious

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tragic
• terrible
• regrettable
• lamentable
• horrible
• unlucky
• deplorable
• shocking
• distressing
• disturbing
• sad
• grievous
• painful
• woeful
• awful
• unsettling
• dire
• distressful
• disastrous
• sickening
• heartbreaking
• dreadful
• troublesome
• pitiful
• miserable
• severe
• fearful
• unbearable
• traumatic
• heartrending
• vexatious
• wretched
• alarming
• poignant
• horrifying
• overwhelming
• piteous
• crushing
• doleful
• intolerable
• moving
• affecting
• touching
• excruciating
• harrowing
• calamitous
• perturbing
• ruthful
• sharp
• raging

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• gratifying
• rewarding
• satisfying
• pleasing
• encouraging
• heartening
• comforting
• fortunate
• inspiring
• lucky
• happy
• heartwarming
• cheering

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of unfortunate

But the manufacturer hit an unfortunate snag early in the car’s production run that kept more than 100 Stingrays from ever hitting the road. — Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 3 Sep. 2026

His exit was not considered a failure, but rather an unfortunate misalliance. — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 2 Sep. 2026

Darryn Peterson has been driving a new matte-black Range Rover luxury SUV the past several weeks, ever since an unfortunate incident forced him to head to the dealership for a new set of wheels. — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026

Joly, selected in the fifth round (152nd overall) by Denver in April, has the unfortunate distinction of being the highest drafted of 20-plus rookie draft picks who were cut by their teams months after being selected. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026