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Synonyms

unhappy

American  
[uhn-hap-ee] / ʌnˈhæp i /

adjective

unhappier, unhappiest

  1. sad; miserable; wretched.

    Why is she so unhappy?
    Synonyms:
    distressed, cheerless, downcast, sorrowful

  2. unfortunate; unlucky.

    an unhappy incident.
    Synonyms:
    hapless

  3. unfavorable; inauspicious.

    an unhappy omen.
    Synonyms:
    unpropitious

  4. infelicitous; unsuitable.

    an unhappy choice of words.
    Synonyms:
    inapt, inappropriate

  5. Archaic. causing trouble; reprehensible; troublesome.

unhappy British  
/ ʌnˈhæpɪ /

adjective

  1. not joyful; sad or depressed

  2. unfortunate or wretched

    an unhappy fellow

  3. tactless or inappropriate

    an unhappy remark

  4. archaic unfavourable

"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

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.

Unhappy with the advisory committee’s decision, the compounding industry has amplified its argument that the FDA review process for the bulks list is broken.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026

Unhappy retailers wanted a growth strategy from Kraft, their biggest mac-and-cheese supplier.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 2, 2026

Unhappy and homesick in Ghana, the boy found lawyers and brought a case against his parents to the High Court in London, which ruled against him in February.

From BBC • Jun. 12, 2025

Unhappy 8A Food Trucks customers from across California described toiling as cooks, custodians and construction workers, saving for years to get a chance at starting their own business, only to have their dreams dashed.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2024

Unhappy at leaving the Abbot unguarded, the mice hesitated to obey the order to withdraw.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques

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.