Unhappy Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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unhappy

[ʌnˈhæpi ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Adjective}

feeling

Not feeling or showing pleasure; causing discomfort or unhappiness.

Synonyms

depressed, discontented, miserable, sad, sorrowful.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
unhappy	General dissatisfaction or lack of joy in various situations. She was unhappy with her job. He felt unhappy about the outcome of the game.
sad	Having feelings of sorrow or unhappiness, often in response to a specific event. She was sad because her cat died. He felt sad when he heard the bad news.
sorrowful	Deep feeling of grief or regret, often related to loss or tragedy. A sorrowful look appeared on her face at the funeral. He wrote a sorrowful letter expressing his regrets.
miserable	Extreme discomfort or suffering, can be emotional or physical. Often used in intense situations of suffering. He felt miserable after the breakup. The cold and rain made everyone miserable.
depressed	Medical or psychological state of severe sadness and loss of interest, often requiring treatment. Generally used in serious and persistent situations. After losing his job, he became deeply depressed. She has been diagnosed with clinical depression.
discontented	Feeling of dissatisfaction due to unmet needs or expectations. Often used in contexts of complaints or unrest. The workers were discontented with their pay. She is discontented with the current political situation.

Examples of usage

She looked unhappy and worried.
Many people are unhappy with the decision.
He was unhappy with his job.

^{Context #2 | Adjective}

not satisfactory

Not satisfied or pleased with a situation because it is not as good as you had hoped.

Synonyms

discontented, displeased, dissatisfied, unsatisfied.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
unhappy	General state of not feeling happy, can refer to temporary or longer-term feelings. She felt unhappy with her job The movie had an unhappy ending
displeased	Showing or feeling annoyance, often due to someone's actions or behavior. The manager was displeased with the team's performance She seemed displeased with the service at the restaurant
dissatisfied	Expressing a lack of satisfaction or fulfillment, often in a specific area like service, product, or performance. Many customers were dissatisfied with the product He felt dissatisfied with his progress at work
unsatisfied	Not having one's desires or needs met, often referring to expectations or requirements. She felt unsatisfied with her meal The project left many goals unsatisfied
discontented	Feeling that something lacks satisfaction, often regarding life circumstances or conditions. He was discontented with his living situation The employees are discontented with the new policy

Examples of usage

I'm unhappy with the quality of service.
The customers were unhappy with the product.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Psychology

Feeling unhappy can trigger the brain to release chemicals like cortisol, linked to stress.
Studies show that a lack of social interaction often contributes to feelings of unhappiness.
Chronic unhappiness can be associated with mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression.

Cultural Perspectives

In some cultures, expressing unhappiness publicly is frowned upon, emphasizing the value of maintaining a happy demeanor.
Art and literature across the world often explore themes of unhappiness, reflecting the human experience and emotions.

Pop Culture

Songs about feeling unhappy often resonate as they capture relatable emotions, like Billie Eilish’s 'When the Party's Over'.
Television shows often depict characters going through periods of unhappiness, making them more relatable to the audience.

Philosophy

Philosophers like Aristotle discussed the importance of happiness and how unhappiness can guide us to seek change.
Existentialists argue that unhappiness can lead to deeper self-awareness and a more meaningful life.

Origin of 'unhappy'

Main points about word origin

The word comes from the prefix 'un-', meaning 'not', combined with 'happy', which means feeling good.
It first appeared in the English language around the 16th century, showing how feelings of sadness have been recognized for centuries.

The word 'unhappy' originated from the Middle English word 'unhappy', which meant 'causing misfortune or calamity'. It is a combination of the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' and the word 'happy'. The term has been used since the 14th century to describe feelings of sorrow, discontent, or displeasure. Over time, its usage has evolved to encompass a wide range of negative emotions and experiences.

See also: happily, happiness, happy, unhappily, unhappiness.

Word Frequency Rank

At #5,603 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.

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5600 flew
5601 originated
5602 treaties
5603 unhappy
5604 spectral
5605 analogy
5606 allegations
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