Collocations for "unfortunate"
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "unfortunate" in context.
WordReference English Collocations © 2025
unfortunate
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.adj
- an unfortunate [outcome, decision, result, choice]
- an unfortunate [end, ending, conclusion] (to)
- came to an unfortunate end
- suffered an unfortunate death
- had an unfortunate effect (on)
- an unfortunate [change, increase, fall, decrease] (in)
- an unfortunate [accident, loss, encounter, incident]
- an unfortunate [turn, series, sequence] of events
- an unfortunate choice of [words, phrase, question]
- the [accident] was [totally, completely, genuinely] unfortunate
- unfortunate [conditions, difficulties, consequences, circumstances]
- an unfortunate [investor, player, person, man, event]
- unfortunate and [bizarre, unfair, unexpected]
- is [very, extremely, most] unfortunate
- these are unfortunate [circumstances, times]
- made an unfortunate [remark, comment] about
- (I know) it's unfortunate, but
- how unfortunate (for her)!
- was unfortunate (enough) to [be, have, get, receive, see, miss]
- was unfortunate that she [didn't, couldn't, wasn't able to]
- has always been unfortunate [in love, at the casino, with investments]
- one of the poor unfortunates who [lost, tried, invested]
- the unfortunates whose [lives, families] (have)
- have been [exploiting, ignoring] the unfortunates
'unfortunate' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):