1
as in unfortunate
having, prone to, or marked by bad luck
the unlucky campers had rain all week I'm so unlucky I don't bother to play the lottery an unlucky throw of the dice
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2
as in tragic
of a kind to cause great distress
the settlers made the unlucky decision to cross the dangerous mountain pass in the middle of winter
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Recent Examples of unlucky
Some people consider the day an extremely unlucky day, which can land as often as three times a year on the calendar.
—
Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 13 June 2025
The bracket’s main enemies both got to be the unlucky recipient of the judges talking out of both sides of their mouths this week.
—Chris Feil, Vulture, 6 June 2025
Meanwhile, Luna and Tonatiuh’s unlucky cellmates attempt to bond amidst their dire circumstances by reminiscing about the culture that’s thriving outside the prison walls.
—Glenn Rowley, Billboard, 5 June 2025
While most people may feel unlucky on Friday the 13th, Krispy Kreme is hoping to make its customers feel lucky with a sweet promotion.
—Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unlucky
Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 13 June 2025
The bracket’s main enemies both got to be the unlucky recipient of the judges talking out of both sides of their mouths this week.
—Chris Feil, Vulture, 6 June 2025
Meanwhile, Luna and Tonatiuh’s unlucky cellmates attempt to bond amidst their dire circumstances by reminiscing about the culture that’s thriving outside the prison walls.
—Glenn Rowley, Billboard, 5 June 2025
While most people may feel unlucky on Friday the 13th, Krispy Kreme is hoping to make its customers feel lucky with a sweet promotion.
—Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unlucky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unlucky
Adjective
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Instead, like so many unfortunate accidents since cell phones were invented, this was caused by a distracted driver.—
Anne Marie D. Lee,
CBS News,
14 July 2025
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Fortunately for him, that gaffe will be a little easier to live down than Teal and Weinberg’s unfortunate comments.—
Krista Kafer,
Denver Post,
12 July 2025
Adjective
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John Burgess was among the victims of the tragic flooding in Texas Hill Country on the Fourth of July after the Guadalupe River rose around 26 feet in approximately 45 minutes, local media outlet KWTX reported.—
Becca Longmire,
People.com,
8 July 2025
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What remains, then, is a growing list of tragic lessons.—
Alexander Puutio,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
Adjective
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This gives the creditor an additional target to pursue and make very unhappy which can indirectly put pressure on the debtor to pay the judgment.—
Jay Adkisson,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
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Circulation increased and the publication won two Pulitzer Prizes, but the owner, conservative Harry Guggenheim, was unhappy with the paper’s shift to the left, and he and Moyers were divided over the Vietnam War and the 1968 presidential election.—
Carmel Dagan,
Variety,
26 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unlucky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unlucky. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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