Looking for synonyms for bad luck? We’ve got you covered!
Here’s a list of other ways to say bad luck.
- Misfortune
- Unluckiness
- Adversity
- Misadventure
- Ill fortune
- Hard luck
- Mishap
- Misery
- Bad break
- Setback
- Calamity
- Disaster
- Tragedy
- Woe
- Tribulation
- Catastrophe
- Bummer
- Ill luck
- Misfiring
- Tough break
Want to learn how to say bad luck professionally? Keep reading for examples and use cases.
1. Misfortune
Usage: Broadly used in various contexts to denote bad luck or an unfortunate event.
Example: “The company faced misfortune when the new product failed to meet sales expectations.”
2. Unluckiness
Usage: Typically used to describe a general state or series of events marked by bad luck.
Example: “The unluckiness of the project timeline was evident with multiple unforeseen delays.”
3. Adversity
Usage: Suitable for serious or challenging situations where bad luck leads to difficult circumstances.
Example: “Despite the adversity faced during the economic downturn, the firm prevailed.”
4. Misadventure
Usage: Often used in formal or legal contexts to describe an instance of bad luck resulting in an accident or mishap.
Example: “The company’s overseas expansion was a misadventure due to unpredictable market conditions.”
5. Ill fortune
Usage: A somewhat formal way to refer to bad luck, often in literary or reflective contexts.
Example: “The ill fortune of the marketing campaign was a learning experience for the team.”
6. Hard luck
Usage: Commonly used in conversational contexts, often to express sympathy for minor misfortunes.
Example: “The manager acknowledged the team’s hard luck when the deal fell through at the last minute.”
7. Mishap
Usage: Suitable for situations where bad luck leads to minor accidents or errors.
Example: “A mishap in the supply chain caused a temporary halt in production.”
8. Misery
Usage: Appropriate in contexts where bad luck leads to extreme distress or suffering.
Example: “The new software’s launch brought misery to the team due to numerous bugs.”
9. Bad break
Usage: Often used colloquially to describe an unfortunate or unfair occurrence.
Example: “It was a bad break for the company when the primary supplier went bankrupt.”
10. Setback
Usage: Common in business and personal development contexts to describe a hindrance or delay due to bad luck.
Example: “The unexpected legal challenge was a major setback for the project.”
11. Calamity
Usage: Suitable for describing a disastrous event often caused by bad luck.
Example: “The sudden market crash was a calamity for investors.”
12. Disaster
Usage: Used to describe an event of great harm or damage, often attributed to bad luck.
Example: “The product recall was a disaster for the brand’s reputation.”
13. Tragedy
Usage: Appropriate for serious, sorrowful events or situations often arising from bad luck.
Example: “The sudden loss of the company founder was a tragedy for the organization.”
14. Woe
Usage: Typically used in more formal or literary contexts to denote troubles or sorrows resulting from bad luck.
Example: “The year was filled with woes for the industry due to the economic crisis.”
15. Tribulation
Usage: Often used in formal, literary, or religious contexts to describe severe suffering or hardship due to bad luck.
Example: “The startup faced many tribulations in its early stages.”
16. Catastrophe
Usage: Suitable for major disasters or crises, often with an implication of bad luck.
Example: “The cybersecurity breach was a catastrophe for the company’s data integrity.”
17. Bummer
Usage: Informal, typically used to express disappointment or minor misfortune.
Example: “It was a bummer for the team when the conference was suddenly canceled.”
18. Ill luck
Usage: Similar to ill fortune, often used to describe a period or instance of misfortune.
Example: “The project was doomed by ill luck from its inception.”
19. Misfiring
Usage: Used metaphorically to describe a plan or action that fails to deliver the expected result, often due to bad luck.
Example: “The product launch was a misfiring due to unforeseen market conditions.”
20. Tough break
Usage: Colloquial, often used to express sympathy for a difficult or unfair situation caused by bad luck.
Example: “It was a tough break for the sales team when the major client backed out.”
