luckless
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /lˈʌkləs/
US
- /ˈləkləs/
Description
- unlucky
- unfortunate
- ill-fated
- doomed
- without luck
Imagine a sailor meeting storm after storm, or a traveler whose plans keep going wrong. That's the kind of person or thing this word describes. It does not point to one bad moment. It suggests a steady pattern of bad luck, as if life keeps turning against them. You often see it in stories about people who face trouble again and again. It is stronger than simply saying "unlucky" because it gives the sense that the bad fortune keeps following them.
This word describes someone or something that keeps meeting bad luck. It is not just about one unlucky event. It suggests a pattern of trouble, failure, or hardship that seems to return again and again. The word often carries a sad tone, as if the person or thing cannot catch a break no matter what they do.
The word is built from "luck" and the suffix "-less," so its basic idea is "without luck." In actual use, though, it usually means more than that. It often points to a lasting run of bad fortune, not just a single setback.
You will often find it in stories, novels, and other dramatic writing. Writers use it for characters, journeys, plans, or events that seem marked by repeated trouble. For example: "The luckless hero stumbled through the dark forest," or "A luckless voyage ended in shipwreck." The word can make the reader feel pity for what is happening.
You might say someone had an "unlucky day" because they missed a bus or lost their keys. You would use this word when the bad luck feels repeated or typical of them. A "luckless adventurer" is not just having one bad trip; they seem to run into trouble at every turn. That is why the word is useful when you want to show ongoing misfortune, especially in a narrative style.
Examples
- 1
Cycling mishap
The luckless cyclist got a flat tire halfway up the hill.
- 2
Sports
The luckless striker hit the post twice before being substituted.
- 3
Romance
After another bad date, Maya joked that she was luckless in love.
Phrase
luckless in love
often having bad experiences in romance
- 4
Travel disruption
The storm left thousands of luckless travelers waiting overnight at the airport.
- 5
Literary tone
In the story, a luckless hero keeps trying to fix his life, but everything goes wrong.
Usage
luckless often sounds literary or journalistic, not casual
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- lucklessadjective