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Definition of unhappily

unhappily

/ʌnˈhæp.ɪ.li/
un · hap · pi · ly
Adjective:unhappy
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unhappily Lexical Profile

unhappily Game Scores & Validity

• adverb

1

In a sad, sorrowful, or dissatisfied manner.

Example

"He stared unhappily out the window at the pouring rain."

2

It is unfortunate or regrettable that; used to express regret about a situation or event.

Example

"Unhappily, the two sides were unable to reach a peaceful agreement before the deadline."

3

In an unsuitable, awkward, or infelicitous manner.

Example

"The complex clause was unhappily worded, leading to decades of legal confusion."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for unhappily

• Nearby Words

unhandicapped
unhandled
unhandy
unhappily
unhappiness
unhappy
unhardened

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in Middle English from the prefix 'un-' (not), 'happy' (from Old Norse 'happ', meaning chance or good luck), and the adverbial suffix '-ly'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Unhappily. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/unhappily
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