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 she has long been unhappy overall with the lack of progress on homelessness, trash and infrastructure issues like broken streetlights.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2026
Dillian added that even an investor who think they can take the stress of a bear market, will be unhappy and miserable “the whole time until you get back to the high-water mark.”
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 5, 2026
Otherwise it is going to be an unhappy international break for Sunderland and their passionate fanbase.
From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026
"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
He’s an electrician, which is nothing like Dad’s job, but he has two kids, and I know from the description on the jacket that he’s in an unhappy marriage.
From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison
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
Do you think I would actually be unhappier as a human?
From New York Times ● Feb. 16, 2023
We have fallen upon a plantation downriver with infinitely less gentility and infinitely unhappier issue.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
“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
Their new paper, which they describe as an “adversarial collaboration,” did find a plateau, but only among the unhappiest 20% of people, and only then when they start earning over $100,000.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 8, 2023
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
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
