Definitions

out of luck

ADJECTIVE

ill-chosen

Synonyms

WEAK

adverse afflicted awkward broken burdened calamitous cursed damaging deplorable desperate destitute disastrous doomed forsaken hapless hopeless ill-fated ill-starred in a bad way inappropriate inept infelicitous inopportune jinxed lamentable luckless pained poor regrettable ruined ruinous shattered star-crossed stricken troubled unbecoming unfavorable unhappy unpropitious unprosperous unsuccessful unsuitable untoward wretched

ADJECTIVE

infelicitous

Synonyms

WEAK

adverse afflicted awkward broken burdened calamitous cursed damaging deplorable desperate destitute disastrous doomed forsaken hapless hopeless ill-chosen ill-fated ill-starred in a bad way inappropriate inept inopportune jinxed lamentable luckless pained poor regrettable ruined ruinous shattered star-crossed stricken troubled unbecoming unfavorable unhappy unpropitious unprosperous unsuccessful unsuitable untoward wretched

ADJECTIVE

late

Synonyms

STRONGEST

last-minute slow

WEAK

backward behind behind time behindhand belated blown delayed dilatory eleventh hour gone held up hung up in a bind in the lurch jammed lagging missed the boat overdue postponed put off remiss stayed strapped tardy too late unpunctual

Antonyms

WEAK

antique early live old old-fashioned on time prompt punctual

ADJECTIVE

unfortunate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

adverse damaging deplorable disastrous inappropriate inauspicious lamentable regrettable unlucky untoward

STRONG

desperate doomed poor sad

WEAK

afflicted broken burdened calamitous cursed destitute forsaken hapless hopeless ill-fated ill-starred in a bad way infelicitous inopportune jinxed luckless pained ruined ruinous shattered star-crossed stricken troubled unbecoming unfavorable unhappy unpropitious unprosperous unsuccessful unsuitable wretched

Antonyms

STRONGEST

auspicious blessed favorable fortunate good happy helpful lucky proper suitable

STRONG

hopeful

WEAK

timely

ADJECTIVE

unlucky

Synonyms

STRONGEST

hapless miserable tragic unhappy

STRONG

luckless

WEAK

afflicted bad break behind the eight ball black calamitous cataclysmic catastrophic cursed dire disastrous down on luck hard luck ill-fated ill-starred inauspicious ominous star-crossed tough luck unfavorable unsuccessful untimely untoward

Antonyms

STRONGEST

cheerful fortunate happy lucky

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.

Workers trying to find better jobs are probably also out of luck.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 9, 2026

If no Roth option is available, workers making over $150,000 in 2025 wanting to make catch-up contributions will be out of luck.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 12, 2026

Investors looking to wind down early ahead of the holidays are out of luck this year.

From Barron's • Dec. 15, 2025

People who were 80 or older on Sept. 1, 2013, were out of luck -- they would never become eligible for the vaccine.

From Science Daily • Dec. 3, 2025

He was out of luck on the boys’ side, so he turned toward the desk all the way in the back of the class, behind Yvonne.

From "P.S. Be Eleven" by Rita Williams-Garcia

out of luck

Example Sentences

Related Words