Unlucky — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˌən-ˈlə-kē/ un·lucky

Meaning & Definition of Unlucky

Unlucky (adjective)

  1. marked by adversity or failure
  2. likely to bring misfortune, inauspicious
  3. having or meeting with misfortune

Unlucky (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: hapless, hard-luck, ill-fated, ill-starred, jinxed, luckless, snakebit, star-crossed, unfortunate, unhappy
    related: adverse, ill, inauspicious, unfavorable, unpromising, untoward, calamitous, catastrophic, disastrous, accursed, damned, doomed, tragic
    opposite: fortunate, happy, lucky
    near: blessed, favored, gifted, privileged, auspicious, fair, favorable, golden, promising, propitious

  2. of a kind to cause great distress

    "the settlers made the unlucky decision to cross the dangerous mountain pass in the middle of winter"

    similar: deplorable, distressful, distressing, grievous, heartbreaking, heartrending, lamentable, regrettable, tragic, unfortunate, woeful
    related: troublesome, vexatious, affecting, doleful, moving, piteous, poignant, ruthful, touching, awful, dire, dreadful, fearful, severe, terrible, alarming, disturbing, perturbing, traumatic, unsettling, crushing, excruciating, harrowing, horrible, horrifying, intolerable, overwhelming, shocking, sickening, unbearable, miserable, pitiful, sad, wretched, calamitous, disastrous, painful, raging, sharp
    near: gratifying, pleasing, rewarding, satisfying, comforting, encouraging, heartening, cheering, heartwarming, inspiring, fortunate, happy, lucky

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Unlucky

The most common words with a similar meaning to Unlucky:

hapless, hard-luck, ill-fated, ill-starred, jinxed, luckless, snakebit, star-crossed, unfortunate, unhappy, deplorable, distressful, distressing, grievous, heartbreaking, heartrending, lamentable, regrettable, tragic, woeful

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Unlucky

Words with the opposite meaning of Unlucky:

fortunate, happy, lucky

Related Words for Unlucky

adverse, ill, inauspicious, unfavorable, unpromising, untoward, calamitous, catastrophic, disastrous, accursed, damned, doomed, troublesome, vexatious, affecting, doleful, moving, piteous, poignant, ruthful, touching, awful, dire, dreadful, fearful, severe, terrible, alarming, disturbing, perturbing

Near Antonyms of Unlucky

blessed, favored, gifted, privileged, auspicious, fair, favorable, golden, promising, propitious, gratifying, pleasing, rewarding, satisfying, comforting, encouraging, heartening, cheering, heartwarming, inspiring

Word Forms of Unlucky

Derived words: unluckiness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Unlucky

First known use: circa 1530

Words & Phrases Containing Unlucky

unlucky in love

Frequently Asked Questions about Unlucky

What does "Unlucky" mean?

"Unlucky" means marked by adversity or failure. As an adjective, it is defined as: marked by adversity or failure. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Unlucky"?

Other words for "Unlucky" include hapless, hard-luck, ill-fated, ill-starred, jinxed, luckless, snakebit and star-crossed. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Unlucky" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Unlucky"?

There are 69 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Unlucky". Common alternatives include hapless, hard-luck, ill-fated, ill-starred, jinxed, luckless, snakebit, star-crossed, unfortunate and unhappy.

What is the opposite of "Unlucky"?

Antonyms of "Unlucky" include fortunate, happy and lucky. Near antonyms include blessed, favored, gifted and privileged.

How do you use "Unlucky" in a sentence?

Examples of "Unlucky" in a sentence: "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".

Is "Unlucky" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Unlucky" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Unlucky"?

"Unlucky" is pronounced /ˌən-ˈlə-kē/ and divided into syllables as un·lucky.

What is the origin of the word "Unlucky"?

First known use: circa 1530.