What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
unfortunate
Example
It's unfortunate that the concert was canceled due to bad weather. [unfortunate: adjective]
Example
The unfortunate victim of the accident was rushed to the hospital. [unfortunate: noun]
hapless
Example
The hapless traveler lost all their luggage on the first day of their trip. [hapless: adjective]
Example
The hapless victim of the robbery was left with nothing. [hapless: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Unfortunate is more commonly used than hapless in everyday language.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between unfortunate and hapless?
Hapless is more formal and literary than unfortunate, which is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
