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.
Particularly now that Americans are unhappy with the state of economy. Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025 Some 59% of voters are unhappy with how things are going in the country. Dana Blanton, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2025 The case came amid a rise in nationwide protests and vandalism targeting Elon Musk’s electric vehicle company by people unhappy with his involvement in President Donald Trump’s administration. Michael Moore Jr., Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2025 Yet Trump was unhappy over plans for the U.S. flag to be flown at half-staff during his inauguration after Biden ordered the measure of respect following Carter’s death for 30 days - something that’s been done following a presidential death since 1954. Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA Today, 19 Apr. 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

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Cite this Entry

“Unhappy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unhappy. Accessed 2 May. 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

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