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
However, its sole 2–1 win against Colombia is better remembered for the unfortunate own goal scored by Colombian team captain Andrés Escobar.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 May 2026
However, on Wednesday, May 13, the content creator took to her Instagram Stories again to share some more unfortunate news.
—Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026
The unfortunate thing about that disdain is that Kennedy has the power to impose his bizarre notions on the entire country.
—Fran Moreland Johns, The Atlantic, 11 May 2026
Each of the three Petite Plume x Tkees arrivals was handcrafted in Brazil, coming to you with impressive traction to avoid unfortunate slips on the deck or stumbles on the sand.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for unfortunate
Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 May 2026
However, on Wednesday, May 13, the content creator took to her Instagram Stories again to share some more unfortunate news.
—Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026
The unfortunate thing about that disdain is that Kennedy has the power to impose his bizarre notions on the entire country.
—Fran Moreland Johns, The Atlantic, 11 May 2026
Each of the three Petite Plume x Tkees arrivals was handcrafted in Brazil, coming to you with impressive traction to avoid unfortunate slips on the deck or stumbles on the sand.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for unfortunate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfortunate
Adjective
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Stearns had nothing to do with any of them — and everything to do with the disastrous offseason that made the Mets the worst team in baseball for most of April.—
Bill Madden,
New York Daily News,
16 May 2026
-
Based on a script by Justin Varava that made the 2024 Black List, Turpentine follows a deadbeat son who hires friends to rob his own parents to pay off a bookie, with disastrous results.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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With the Mets taking a 2-1 lead, Rodón, clearly unhappy, appeared to curse at himself as Austin Wells patted him on the shoulder.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
17 May 2026
-
Janet reportedly attended an early private screening of the rough cut of the film and walked away pretty unhappy.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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What could have easily made for an overwrought and even tragic read, however, is presented with a surprisingly light touch.—
Sheldon Pearce,
New Yorker,
15 May 2026
-
The ongoing issues for Kirby Smart and his players have only increased since a tragic accident claimed the life of offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiting staffer Chandler LeCroy following the 2022 national championship season.—
Trey Wallace OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
Adjective
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Graham himself would also be out of luck if past Trump criticism were always politically fatal.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
19 May 2026
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Moments after a security guard broke up the beating and the teenagers scattered, the 13-year-old came upon David and his girlfriend at the fountain plaza next to the theaters where the fatal stabbing took place.—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
In July 1997, parts of Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic were struck by catastrophic river flooding that left more than 100 people dead.—
David Faris,
TheWeek,
14 May 2026
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Blake scrambles back to prevent the catastrophic, but the shot flies over the bar.—
Franklin Leonard,
Vanity Fair,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unfortunate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfortunate. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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