as in sadly
by bad fortune or luck
Unfortunately, you've just missed her.
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Recent Examples of unfortunately
While his legacy was certainly felt in Send Help, Jeff Probst was unfortunately too busy with Tribal Council to make a cameo.
—
Glenn Garner, Deadline, 8 Mar. 2026
The gym too is stylishly designed—with hemlock floors and forgiving lights—and the fitness equipment is up-to-date, if unfortunately not sourced from Olympus itself.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Mar. 2026
What my broker said is not right now, unfortunately.
—Tim McNicholas, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026
But unfortunately, the leadership of the Democratic Party remains completely out of touch.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unfortunately
Glenn Garner, Deadline, 8 Mar. 2026
The gym too is stylishly designed—with hemlock floors and forgiving lights—and the fitness equipment is up-to-date, if unfortunately not sourced from Olympus itself.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Mar. 2026
What my broker said is not right now, unfortunately.
—Tim McNicholas, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026
But unfortunately, the leadership of the Democratic Party remains completely out of touch.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unfortunately
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfortunately
Adverb
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The veteran actor has four Oscar nominations but has sadly gone 0 for 4, losing Best Supporting Actor for Platoon (1986), Shadow of the Vampire (2000), and The Florida Project (2017), and Best Actor for At Eternity's Gate (2018).—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Mar. 2026
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His abhorrent behavior is sadly too common across the restaurant industry, from the finest dining to the humblest street stalls.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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Their answer to having to tolerate difference is whatever means are necessary to stop liberalization, and lamentably, our Bill of Rights and governmental checks on the executive mean that taking a jack hammer to our nation’s foundation is a necessary means to a repugnant end.—
Rafael Perez,
Oc Register,
14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unfortunately.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfortunately. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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