Synonyms for misfortunate

Most common

poor · pathetic · miserable · pitiful

All synonyms

Adjective

Definitions

1. adj. 1

   Having suffered misfortune; pitiable or habitually unfortunate.

Example sentences

• poor The doctor would not take any gifts from the poor.
• pathetic The education in that institute is simply pathetic.
• miserable Tom is sitting on a park bench, looking miserable.
• pitiful The pitiful tale fetched tears from the girl.

Popularity over time

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

4 letters

poor¹

7 letters

pitiful³, hapless², piteous

8 letters

pathetic³, wretched², pitiable⁴

9 letters

miserable⁴

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (pitiful³ = 3 syllables).