unfortunate
Worthy of sympathy
Unfortunate describes bad luck or unfavorable circumstances: an unfortunate accident, an unfortunate choice of words.
It often softens criticism—calling someone's remarks unfortunate suggests they were regrettable without being malicious.
As a noun, an unfortunate is someone suffering hardship: The shelter serves the city's unfortunates.
The word implies events beyond one's control, distinguishing misfortune from fault.
Destined to fail
- ill-starredFated to fail
- star-crossedDoomed by destiny
- jinxedAfflicted with misfortune
- cursedUnder a malevolent spell
doomed · hexed · snakebit · blighted · misbegotten · fated · destined · unlucky
Lacking good fortune
- helplessUnable to act independently
- pitiableDeserving sympathetic sorrow
- wretchedExtremely unhappy or unfortunate
- poorLacking sufficient resources
pathetic · luckless · forlorn · woebegone · miserable · desperate · afflicted · suffering
Not in your benefit
- detrimentalCausing harm or damage
- harmfulCausing damage or injury
- damagingCausing loss or injury
- negativeOpposite of affirmative
counterproductive · deleterious · injurious · disastrous · calamitous · destructive · pernicious · inauspicious
Deserving strong disapproval
- deplorableDeserving strong disapproval
- shamefulCausing or meriting disgrace
- distressingCausing anguish or worry
- disappointingFailing to satisfy expectations
sad · sorry · woeful · grievous · unhappy · dismaying · disheartening · discouraging
Causing great sorrow
- catastrophicCausing complete destruction
- disastrousCausing great damage
- devastatingCausing severe damage
- ruinousCausing severe destruction
cataclysmic · dire · grievous · terrible · dreadful · awful · horrendous · horrible
ill-fated
Destined to fail
- ill-starredFated to fail
- star-crossedDoomed by destiny
- jinxedAfflicted with misfortune
cursed · doomed · hexed · snakebit · blighted · misbegotten · fated · destined · unlucky · accursed
hapless
Lacking good fortune
- helplessUnable to act independently
- pitiableDeserving sympathetic sorrow
- wretchedExtremely unhappy or unfortunate
poor · pathetic · luckless · forlorn · woebegone · miserable · desperate · afflicted · suffering · downtrodden
unfavorable
Not in your benefit
- detrimentalCausing harm or damage
- harmfulCausing damage or injury
- damagingCausing loss or injury
negative · counterproductive · deleterious · injurious · disastrous · calamitous · destructive · pernicious · inauspicious · ill-boding
lamentable
Deserving strong disapproval
- deplorableDeserving strong disapproval
- shamefulCausing or meriting disgrace
- distressingCausing anguish or worry
disappointing · sad · sorry · woeful · grievous · unhappy · dismaying · disheartening · discouraging · troubling
tragic
Causing great sorrow
- catastrophicCausing complete destruction
- disastrousCausing great damage
- devastatingCausing severe damage
ruinous · cataclysmic · dire · grievous · terrible · dreadful · awful · horrendous · horrible · fatal
- unfortunatesvictims, wretch, poor soul, lost soul, victim
- povertypoverty line, poor, poverty rate, impoverished, generational poverty
unfortunatefortunate
Enjoying favorable circumstances
lucky · blessed · favored · providential · privileged
unfortunateappropriate
Suited to circumstance
tactful · fitting · apt · suitable · well-timed
unfortunateauspicious
Indicating future success
fortunate · promising · propitious · hopeful · encouraging
- how unfortunateExpression of sympathy