unhappy

UK: /ʌnˈhæpi/ US: /ʌnˈhæpi/ ,(un hap′ē)

Inflections of 'unhappy' (adj):

unhappier

adj comparative

unhappiest

adj superlative

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

un•hap•py /ʌnˈhæpi/   adj., -pi•er, -pi•est. 

1. sad; miserable;
   wretched.
2. unfortunate;
   unlucky:
   met an unhappy fate.
3. not suitable:
   an unhappy choice of words.

un•hap•pi•ly /ʌnˈhæpəli/  adv.: 

unhappily married.

un•hap•pi•ness, n. [uncountable]
Related Words

unhappy is an adjective, unhappily is an adverb, unhappiness is a noun:
He was very unhappy to hear such bad news. She frowned unhappily as they voted against her proposal. His life was filled with unhappiness and sorrow.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

un•hap•py  (un hap′ē), adj., -pi•er, -pi•est. 

1. sad;
   miserable;
   wretched:
   Why is she so unhappy?
2. unfortunate;
   unlucky:
   an unhappy incident.
3. unfavorable;
   inauspicious:
   an unhappy omen.
4. infelicitous;
   unsuitable:
   an unhappy choice of words.
5. [Archaic.] causing trouble;
   reprehensible;
   troublesome.

• 1250–1300; Middle English: causing misfortune, objectionable; see un-¹, happy

un•hap′pi•ly, adv. 
un•hap′pi•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. sorrowful, downcast, cheerless, distressed.
• 2. hapless.
• 3. unpropitious.
• 4. inappropriate, inapt.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

unhappy / ʌnˈhæpɪ/ adjective ( -pier, -piest)

1. not joyful; sad or depressed
2. unfortunate or wretched: an unhappy fellow
3. tactless or inappropriate: an unhappy remark

unˈhappily adverb

unˈhappiness noun