1
as in sad
feeling unhappiness
he's been unhappy ever since his family's move, which took him away from all his friends
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unfortunate
having, prone to, or marked by bad luck
she's trying to forget that whole unhappy attempt to start a business
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in unsuitable
not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation
a guest unintentionally made unhappy reference to what is a painful situation for the family
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of unhappy
This move made some fans unhappy, but the reality is that the bourbon’s quality really didn’t suffer.
—
Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 21 Sep. 2025
This not only can lead unhappy consumers to leave but also deter future business through negative word-of-mouth and reviews.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Muir met with the owner Suzy Batlle, who opened the gourmet ice cream shop 14 years ago after getting laid off from her banking job (her kids were apparently not unhappy with this venture).
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 19 Sep. 2025
All of those things point to very, very unhappy public.
—James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unhappy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unhappy
Adjective
-
Is this a deeply sad, award-winning tearjerker of a drama?—
-
The schism that developed between Ric and Ben is a very sad part of the story.—
Adjective
-
Plus, Vince’s on-screen demise serves an unfortunate reminder of the realities of real-life firefighting.—
-
The Ravens move on to Week 4 with an unfortunate stat, having scored 111 points across three games.—
Adjective
-
While Jefferson’s efforts were hindered by Virginia’s challenging climate, pests, and unsuitable vines, his vision laid the foundation for future winemakers.—
-
Rivers—or more specifically the floodplains and forests that flank rivers—are among the most important migratory corridors that allow jaguars to move through unsuitable land cover (such as agriculture) to reach core habitat areas.—
Adjective
-
In recent months, farmers have cited depressed commodity prices, high input costs and a weak export market as pressing economic stressors going into the harvest season.—
-
At first, Walters feared the chicken might not survive—describing her as lethargic and depressed.—
Adjective
-
Even as tragedy and struggle beset the tenement districts, the very qualities that defined the tenement’s unfavorable physical conditions—over-crowdedness and density—became building blocks for community.—
-
When unfavorable ratios of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol were considered, those with the least favorable ratios had a 54% higher risk of high blood pressure.—
Adjective
-
The decision in Gardner’s favor could become a significant ruling for celebrities who use humor, exaggeration and sarcasm that some might find inappropriate when responding to strangers on social media platforms.—
-
That Arthur, as the eldest, will inherit the brewery seems a bit inappropriate.—
Adjective
-
One woman, Chinni, described the work as miserable.—
-
O’Neill is playing the mom’s curmudgeonly father-in-law who seems intent on making everyone’s life miserable.—
Adjective
-
Pittman, 63, was credited with stabilizing the program in the wake of the disastrous 4-20 run in two years under Chad Morris (2018-19), and had a 32-34 record in his first FBS head coaching job.—
-
Inconsistencies in recent years, along with a disastrous 56-13 loss to Notre Dame on Saturday, spelled the end of Pittman's tenure at Arkansas.—
Cite this Entry
“Unhappy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unhappy. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share