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

These small habits go a long way toward keeping the fruit fresh and keeping you out of any unfortunate, unsafe situations later. — Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 14 Aug. 2026

But Michael Pentecost, a Royse City resident who was not at the swimming pool, called the situation unfortunate. — Marvin Hurst, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026

Given the stoner comedy genre’s unfortunate lack of female representation, The Wrong Girls is a breath of dank kush, perfect to watch after hot-boxing with your bestie in The Grove parking garage. — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 12 Aug. 2026

Brave will no doubt be poking fun at the usual suspects — including ex-boyfriends, and basically the male species in general, as well as unfortunate folks in the front row. — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 12 Aug. 2026