1
as in unfortunate
having, prone to, or marked by bad luck
the unlucky campers had rain all week I'm so unlucky I don't bother to play the lottery an unlucky throw of the dice
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2
as in tragic
of a kind to cause great distress
the settlers made the unlucky decision to cross the dangerous mountain pass in the middle of winter
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Recent Examples of unlucky
The cinematic feature directed by Jordan Hemingway sees Twigs and her friend book a room with an unlucky fellow’s credit card as the scene evolves into a provocative hotel rendezvous sans fellow.
—
Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2025
And those participating in it dispensed revolutionary justice to members of the ancien régime unlucky enough to be caught.
—Kapil Komireddi, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Some of Walz’s people are unlucky.
—Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 20 Sep. 2025
Heather has beef with Bronwyn, Meredith hates Britani, nobody ever knows where Mary stands with anyone, and Angie, Whitney, and Bronwyn are not happy with Lisa, who, lucky for them but unlucky for us, isn’t on this cast trip.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unlucky
Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2025
And those participating in it dispensed revolutionary justice to members of the ancien régime unlucky enough to be caught.
—Kapil Komireddi, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Some of Walz’s people are unlucky.
—Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 20 Sep. 2025
Heather has beef with Bronwyn, Meredith hates Britani, nobody ever knows where Mary stands with anyone, and Angie, Whitney, and Bronwyn are not happy with Lisa, who, lucky for them but unlucky for us, isn’t on this cast trip.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unlucky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unlucky
Adjective
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As Yassir Zabiri flung his boot in the air, the ball bounced off the unfortunate Joshua Wynder and into his own net.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
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Tight end Orande Gadsden had a very unfortunate early fumble, resulting in a long touchdown run.—
Nick Canepa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Some cases have had tragic consequences, such as 35-year-old Alex Taylor, who struggled with Asperger’s syndrome, bipolar disorder, and schizoaffective disorder, per Rolling Stone.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
19 Oct. 2025
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Following psychic researchers in search of spirits in a New England house with a tragic past, The Haunting trades leering ghouls and jump scares for atmosphere and suggestion, cultivating a cloud of dread that hangs like a heavy blanket over audiences.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Jason Kelce, brother of Travis and former star of the Philadelphia Eagles, has issued a statement after a fake quote of him appearing to criticize those unhappy with the selection of Bad Bunny for the Super Bowl Halftime Show went viral.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
15 Oct. 2025
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Advertisement Lawmakers are reportedly unhappy with briefings on the strikes, unable to clarify the legal basis of the strikes, and the refusal from Pentagon officials to provide unedited video footage of such incidents.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
15 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unlucky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unlucky. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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