unhappy
Americanadjective
-
sad; miserable; wretched.
Why is she so unhappy?
- Synonyms:
- distressed, cheerless, downcast, sorrowful
-
unfortunate; unlucky.
an unhappy incident.
- Synonyms:
- hapless
-
unfavorable; inauspicious.
an unhappy omen.
- Synonyms:
- unpropitious
-
infelicitous; unsuitable.
an unhappy choice of words.
- Synonyms:
- inapt, inappropriate
-
Archaic. causing trouble; reprehensible; troublesome.
adjective
-
not joyful; sad or depressed
-
unfortunate or wretched
an unhappy fellow
-
tactless or inappropriate
an unhappy remark
-
archaic unfavourable
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of unhappy
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English: “causing misfortune, objectionable”; un- 1 + happy
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Americans remain unhappy about the economy, and higher prices are a big reason.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
The benefit of year-round daylight saving time would be 5:44 p.m. sunsets shortly after Thanksgiving for Los Angeles — a delight for Angelenos unhappy with 4:44 p.m. sunsets as winter approaches.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
According to a Pew Research Center survey released in October 2025, large majorities of Americans are unhappy with both political parties.
From Salon ● Jul. 21, 2026
We’d have far fewer ill-equipped managers and unhappy employees if people were more honest with themselves about whether they have the desire or ability to empathize with others and invest in their career growth.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026
“Well, you sound pretty unhappy yourself, miss,” he retorted, and went on with his ringing.
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
A 2010 Brookings Institution paper found people were unhappier on days when gasoline rose above $3.50 and $4.00 a gallon.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 31, 2026
"It should really shock our collective conscience… It will haunt us. We are seeing things happening that will make the world an unhappier place far beyond the region."
From BBC ● Jun. 8, 2025
Do companies enacting RTO mandates simply run unhappier companies?
From Salon ● Apr. 30, 2025
Not only does this “maximizer” mentality lead to more hoarding, it can also make you unhappier.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 21, 2023
“You’re worshiped, and that year is over and you’re like anyone else. “We all feel that our husbands have been unhappier with ev-erything after they got out of it.
From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger
“You are only as happy as your unhappiest child, and me? I have so many.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 26, 2026
At the other end of the scale, countries with the unhappiest populations were Afghanistan and Lebanon across age groups.
From BBC ● Mar. 20, 2024
But his time at the top coincided with his unhappiest time personally, and he stepped off.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 3, 2022
The team that might be unhappiest with the new draw is Real Madrid, which started with a very winnable match against Benfica, but wound up playing the star-studded lineup of P.S.G.
From New York Times ● Dec. 13, 2021
She was the unhappiest I had ever seen her.
From "The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother" by James McBride
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
