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Definitions

bad luck

NOUN
rotten break
Synonyms
STRONGEST
adversity hard time hardship misfortune setback tragedy
WEAK
bad break blow devil's own luck hard cheese hard luck ill luck mischance raw deal reverse rotten luck tough break tough luck
Antonyms
STRONGEST
advantage blessing boon favor success

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“Bad years for the S&P 500 are due to very specific factors, not just bad luck or arbitrary changes in investor sentiment,” said Nicholas Colas, co-founder of DataTrek, in commentary shared with MarketWatch on Tuesday.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 24, 2026

The idea, which took root quickly among users and influencers, is that America is a tough place to survive because a single stroke of bad luck can derail your life.

From BBC • Feb. 14, 2026

"It's not that he wasn't concentrating. It was just a bit of bad luck."

From Barron's • Jan. 27, 2026

Never one to be discouraged by his persistent bad luck, Hunt turned his cell into a salon visited by William Hazlitt and Thomas Moore.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026

Those places are full of bad memories and bad luck.

From "Because of Mr. Terupt" by Rob Buyea