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Synonyms

unhappy

American  
[uhn-hap-ee] / ʌnˈhæp i /

adjective

unhappier, unhappiest

  1. sad; miserable; wretched.

    Why is she so unhappy?
    Synonyms:
    distressed, cheerless, downcast, sorrowful

  2. unfortunate; unlucky.

    an unhappy incident.
    Synonyms:
    hapless

  3. unfavorable; inauspicious.

    an unhappy omen.
    Synonyms:
    unpropitious

  4. infelicitous; unsuitable.

    an unhappy choice of words.
    Synonyms:
    inapt, inappropriate

  5. Archaic. causing trouble; reprehensible; troublesome.

unhappy British  
/ ʌnˈhæpɪ /

adjective

  1. not joyful; sad or depressed

  2. unfortunate or wretched

    an unhappy fellow

  3. tactless or inappropriate

    an unhappy remark

  4. archaic unfavourable

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • unhappily adverb
  • unhappiness noun

Etymology

Origin of unhappy

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English: “causing misfortune, objectionable”; un- 1 + happy

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"I'm not angry. I'm just bewildered, confused, unhappy," she said.

From Barron's

Meanwhile, Red Bull's Max Verstappen told BBC Sport he is considering leaving the sport at the end of the season because he is unhappy with its new rules.

From BBC

There are known to be senior commanders who are unhappy with his leadership.

From BBC

Verstappen is the most outspoken of the drivers about the new rules, but he is far from the only one unhappy.

From BBC

Erlandson said he showed up as an "act of solidarity" with other people unhappy with how the country is being run.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.