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unfortunate Synonyms

Another word for unfortunate

Choosing another word for unfortunate depends on context, so the 17 synonyms and similar words below are separated across 3 exact definitions and ranked by match strength.
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• adjective (Context 1)

Having or marked by bad fortune; unlucky or unsuccessful.

Usage Example

"The unlucky travelers were stranded at the airport for two days due to the blizzard."

Strongest
unlucky
luckless
hapless
Strong
ill-fated
wretched
ill-starred
doomed

• adjective (Context 2)

Regrettable, inappropriate, or unsuitable in a given situation.

Usage Example

"He made an regrettable remark during the meeting that offended several colleagues."

Strongest
regrettable
Strong
inappropriate
ill-advised
untoward
lamentable
deplorable
unseemly

• noun (Context 3)

A person who suffers from bad luck, poverty, or miserable circumstances.

Usage Example

"The charity opened a new shelter to provide warm meals for the unfortunates of the city."

Strong
wretch
outcast
Weak
underdog

Opposites of unfortunate

The opposite of unfortunate shifts depending on context. Common opposites include:

fortunate
lucky
appropriate
felicitous
suitable
fitting
blessed
favored
See all opposites of unfortunate

• Nearby Words

unformed
unformulated
unfortified
unfortunate
unfortunately
unfortunateness
unfought

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Synonyms for Unfortunate. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 4, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/synonyms/unfortunate
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