unfortunate
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.
See Examples For:
"I'm aware of the report, the president is too, I spoke with him about it. He believes it's deeply unfortunate and frankly a disgrace," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.
From Barron's ● Jul. 16, 2026
Its striking white and yellow coloration quickly attracted attention in the pet trade, but breeders soon noticed an unfortunate pattern.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 15, 2026
One reason the potential gain is so large might be Warner’s unfortunate history.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
What is more unfortunate for the officiating team is the potential foul on Salah in the build-up to Fernandez's dramatic winner.
From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026
As Agatha Swanburne herself once remarked, “So many cupcakes, so little time”—an unfortunate mathematical ratio that remains in effect to this very day.
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
These unfortunates are forced to live in hiding in the attics and basements of the sympathetic forgetful.
From Slate ● Mar. 20, 2020
“Bounteous Los Angeles saw to it yesterday that the unfortunates within her gates had reason to be thankful for at least one plate of hot, steaming turkey fit for a king,” a 1935 story said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 26, 2019
The bus stopped for the last few unfortunates, and Westerband cajoled them through the door, even as they tried to remonstrate with him.
From New York Times ● Apr. 23, 2019
If the name maketh the man, then surely Zambia's notoriously grim prisons are full of unfortunates who've been saddled with names like Chidano, Mapenzi and Chananga - that's "hatred", "trouble" and "wrongdoer" respectively?
From BBC ● Mar. 25, 2017
Most people probably enjoyed the close intimacy of the roaming band, but those unfortunates who incurred the hostility or mockery of their fellow band members probably suffered terribly.
From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari
Vocabulary lists containing unfortunate
Oh, No! Synonyms for "Bad"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Vocabulary from the Songs of "The Little Mermaid"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Schooled
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
