Synonyms

luckless

American

[luhk-lis] / ˈlʌk lɪs /

adjective

having no luck; unfortunate; hapless; ill-fated; turning out or ending disastrously.

a luckless venture that ruined many of the investors.

luckless British

/ ˈlʌklɪs /

adjective

having no luck; unlucky

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Etymology

Origin of luckless

First recorded in 1555–65; luck + -less

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.

After his luckless crash with Piastri, in a multiple collision, in the earlier sprint race won by Verstappen, Norris was philosophical.

From Barron's • Oct. 18, 2025

Being luckless in love is commonplace these days.

From Salon • Sep. 14, 2025

A below-par display against Dimitrov went unpunished when the luckless Bulgarian popped a pectoral muscle in the third set.

From BBC • Jul. 9, 2025

It screamed watershed moment, the forever luckless Clippers outfoxing the eternally exalted Lakers for the services of not one, but two superstars.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2025

Readers of The Times in London were told that what was otherwise an “imposing ceremony” was “rendered ludicrous by some of the luckless sallies of that poor President Lincoln.”

From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023