1
as in sad
feeling unhappiness
he's been unhappy ever since his family's move, which took him away from all his friends
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unfortunate
having, prone to, or marked by bad luck
she's trying to forget that whole unhappy attempt to start a business
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in unsuitable
not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation
a guest unintentionally made unhappy reference to what is a painful situation for the family
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unhappy
The Aggies improved to 8-0 and showed exactly why wealthy schools unhappy with their progress but facing the pain of expensive buyouts may be willing to eat costs that in the past might have been prohibitive.
—
Andrew Greif, NBC news, 27 Oct. 2025
The portrait of Depardieu that Ferrara gives is the last in Scene’s gallery of fellow addicts, beginning with the author’s immediate family and continuing with his later friends and collaborators, quite a few of whom come to unhappy ends.
—Nick Pinkerton, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
People who will be sent there include those who let their poor unhappy doggies bark endlessly, those who throw trash on the beach and those who hunt exotic animals for sport.
—Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 22 Oct. 2025
During a recent hearing, the judge was clearly unhappy with a recent community meeting.
—Rafael Carranza, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unhappy
Andrew Greif, NBC news, 27 Oct. 2025
The portrait of Depardieu that Ferrara gives is the last in Scene’s gallery of fellow addicts, beginning with the author’s immediate family and continuing with his later friends and collaborators, quite a few of whom come to unhappy ends.
—Nick Pinkerton, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
People who will be sent there include those who let their poor unhappy doggies bark endlessly, those who throw trash on the beach and those who hunt exotic animals for sport.
—Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 22 Oct. 2025
During a recent hearing, the judge was clearly unhappy with a recent community meeting.
—Rafael Carranza, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unhappy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unhappy
Adjective
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As Morgan and Sasha chat it up at Noah’s family’s Purim party, a sad-eyed Esther stands off to the side, quietly watching the interaction.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
24 Oct. 2025
-
The footage shows Deiseroth’s demeanor teetering between sad and angry.—
David Goodhue
October 24,
Miami Herald,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Thus a wonderful section on The Jew of Malta climaxes in an unfortunate vision of the text as a secret message to Lord Strange, a wealthy and important patron of the arts.—
Isaac Butler,
The Atlantic,
3 Nov. 2025
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Such an event, let alone two within less than an hour of each other, is both unfortunate and potentially very suspicious.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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But the movie only gives tiny little tastes of 1982 rock culture, and why Nebraska was so comically unsuitable for airplay.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
2 Nov. 2025
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This closeness causes gravitational instability that existing planetary formation models have suggested should result in an environment unsuitable for planet formation.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Developers are taking an extended break from a slumping San Diego area office market beset by empty space, depressed demand and high construction costs.—
Jennifer Van Grove,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Nov. 2025
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Real wages remain depressed and economic growth has stalled.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The Arizona Wildcats clobbered Colorado, 52-17, marking another disastrous defeat for Coach Prime.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
2 Nov. 2025
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Gottlieb’s team, picked last in the Horizon League preseason poll, hopes to improve on last year’s disastrous 4-28 campaign.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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This means exposing the shoulders, showing too much leg above the knees, or wearing clothing with crude or inappropriate imagery.—
Asia London Palomba,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Oct. 2025
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Section 5 would've set new terms for challenging material that anyone may find inappropriate, and ultimately vest public local officials with the power to issue a final ruling on the dispute.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Zoning is not meant to be some sort of punishing thing meant to make a city miserable.—
Kim Velsey,
Curbed,
5 Nov. 2025
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But George appeared in just 41 games due to injury, while Embiid played in just 19 games, and the Sixers sagged to a miserable 24-58 finish.—
Robert Marvi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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While most plot details remain under wraps, The Hollywood Reporter previously revealed that one plot point centers on the son of Stiller and Polo’s characters, who gets engaged to a ball-busting woman who seems all wrong for him.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Nov. 2025
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The right kiss will save them, but the wrong one will kill them.—
Brittany Johnson,
PEOPLE,
2 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unhappy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unhappy. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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