UNLUCKY Synonyms: 96 Similar and Opposite Words

unlucky

adjective

ˌən-ˈlə-kē

Definition of unlucky

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of unlucky During a medieval siege, a trebuchet scored a chance hit on an unlucky defender. — ArsTechnica, 17 Aug. 2026 Unless, of course, this is Betts, now at 33, in his — unlucky? — Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026 His first run allowed came on a Dansby Swanson home run in the third inning, with the second coming on an unlucky break. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026 Kidnappings in Nigeria target the rich and the poor, the prominent and the unlucky. — Alexis Okeowo, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unlucky

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unlucky

Adjective

There are no Cubs players involved in the TikTok series, the Cubs told me, which is unfortunate since Crow-Armstrong has acting in his DNA — his mother and father are both actors — and probably would be at least as good as Damon.

— Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
Every mosquito has a type Count me among the unfortunate souls who are mosquito magnets; something about my body chemistry is irresistible to those tiny bloodsucking fiends.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of unfortunate

Adjective

That's the common denominator, to be quite honest, between the success stories and the tragic stories.

— Kalia Richardson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Even Treadwell, who spend thirteen summers in Alaska compiling some 100 hours of bear footage, wasn’t even remotely prepared for his encounters, evidenced by his tragic death at the hands of one of his beloved grizzlies.

— Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of tragic

Adjective

Garcia and fellow Democrats are mindful of what’s driving unhappy voters who face a vexing mix of inflation and weak economic growth.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Sometimes kids performing things on TV look unhappy or awkward, but this girl seems to genuinely enjoy singing while her dad plays guitar.

— Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of unhappy

Adjective

This year, the final was between Kerry, historically the sport’s most successful side, and Mayo, one of Ireland’s smaller counties by population and, in football terms, the most luckless.

— Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 27 July 2026
The one in which his tiny team of negotiators surrendered to the radicals ruling that luckless nation.

— Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 20 June 2026

Definition of luckless

Browse Nearby Words

unluckiness

unlucky

unlyrical

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Unlucky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unlucky. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of unlucky

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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