unhappy

adjective

un·​hap·​py ˌən-ˈha-pē How to pronounce unhappy (audio)
1
: not fortunate : unlucky
an unhappy coincidence
2
: not cheerful or glad : sad, wretched
3
a
: causing or subject to misfortune : inauspicious
b
: infelicitous, inappropriate
an unhappy choice
unhappiness noun

Examples of unhappy in a Sentence

I can see that he's unhappy, but I don't know why. I've never seen her looking so unhappy. For three unhappy days we were all stuck in the house because of the blizzard. an unhappy choice of career The movie's hero meets an unhappy fate.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Instead, the Jonas Brothers performed, and the internet was unhappy, to say the least. Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025 United’s first goal owed a debt to a clash between Van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister, with Liverpool unhappy that play wasn’t stopped for a head injury. The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025 The portrait of Depardieu that Ferrara gives is the last in Scene’s gallery of fellow addicts, beginning with the author’s immediate family and continuing with his later friends and collaborators, quite a few of whom come to unhappy ends. Nick Pinkerton, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025 People who will be sent there include those who let their poor unhappy doggies bark endlessly, those who throw trash on the beach and those who hunt exotic animals for sport. Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 22 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unhappy

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unhappy was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unhappy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unhappy. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

unhappy

adjective
un·​hap·​py ˌən-ˈhap-ē How to pronounce unhappy (audio)
1
: not fortunate : unlucky
an unhappy mistake
2
: not cheerful : sad
3
: inappropriate
an unhappy color combination
unhappily
-ˈhap-ə-lē
adverb
unhappiness
-ˈhap-i-nəs
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on unhappy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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