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Definition of unhappy

unhappy

/ʌnˈhæp.i/
un · hap · py
Adverb:unhappily
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unhappy Lexical Profile

unhappy Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Feeling or showing sadness, sorrow, or lack of joy; not cheerful or contented.

Example

"She felt deeply unhappy after moving away from her childhood friends."

2

Dissatisfied or displeased with a particular situation, decision, or arrangement.

Example

"Several committee members were unhappy with the proposed budget cuts."

3

Unfortunate, unlucky, or marked by unfavorable circumstances; also, tactless or ill-chosen (especially of a remark or coincidence).

Example

"By an unhappy coincidence, both keynote speakers fell ill on the morning of the conference."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
View all antonyms for unhappy

• Rhymes for unhappy

• Nearby Words

unhandy
unhappily
unhappiness
unhappy
unhardened
unharmed
unharmful

Word Origin & Etymology

Originating in Middle English as unhappi, the word initially meant 'unlucky' or 'causing misfortune'—derived from the prefix un- ('not') and hap ('chance' or 'fortune', from Old Norse happ)—before shifting primarily to its modern emotional sense of sadness.

Cite this Entry

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