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:
"But he has to accept this reality, rather than simply continuing to feel down or unhappy because of it."
From Barron's ● Nov. 4, 2026
The whole country has seemed to be in a sour mood, unhappy with everything, feeling as if the world has gone off its axis and life is out of balance.
From Salon ● Nov. 4, 2026
The carpenters union, whose leaders were unhappy with Bass over her approach to affordable housing, put in $3.8 million.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 1, 2026
It has led to speculation in the Brazilian media that he is unhappy or pushing for a move.
From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026
“Good grief,” said Mrs. Brisbane in a very unhappy voice.
From "The World According to Humphrey" by Betty G. Birney
Early in his speech, Burnham remarked that Parliament seemed to be an unhappier place than when he was last an MP.
From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026
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
Not only does this “maximizer” mentality lead to more hoarding, it can also make you unhappier.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 21, 2023
He is played in his 30s and 40s by Jack Lowden and as an older, unhappier man by Peter Capaldi, whose resemblance to late photographs of Sassoon is uncanny.
From New York Times ● Jun. 2, 2022
And for him it was different—the more he won, the unhappier he became.
From "The Mysterious Benedict Society" by Trenton Lee Stewart
“You are only as happy as your unhappiest child, and me? I have so many.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 26, 2026
Philippe Villeneuve, the cathedral's chief architect, described himself four years ago - after witnessing the fire - as "the unhappiest architect in the world".
From BBC ● Apr. 14, 2023
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
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
