Unhappy

/ʌnˈhæpi/ adjective

Definition

feeling sad, displeased, or not satisfied; the opposite of happy.

Etymology

Formed from the prefix 'un-' (meaning not) combined with 'happy.' The word 'happy' originally meant lucky or fortunate in Middle English, from Old Norse 'happ' meaning chance or fortune.

Kelly Says

Interestingly, 'unhappy' often suggests a deeper dissatisfaction than just sadness—it can imply disapproval or unease about something, which is why people say 'I'm unhappy with this decision' rather than 'I'm sad with this decision.'

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.