star-crossed

adjective

ˈstär-ˌkrȯst How to pronounce star-crossed (audio)
Definition of star-crossednext
as in unfortunate
having, prone to, or marked by bad luck Romeo and Juliet are among literature's most famous star-crossed lovers

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of star-crossed So ends one of the most controversial and star-crossed investigations in history. — Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 11 Jan. 2025 Flashback: Boeing's Starliner was star-crossed even before the inaugural crewed mission earlier this year. — Avery Lotz, Axios, 30 Sep. 2024 Few Olympic teams in any sport have had to rebound more times or overcome adversity more often than the U.S. women’s water polo team, the most successful in the world in the pool and the most star-crossed outside it. — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for star-crossed
  1. unfortunate
  2. unhappy
  3. disastrous
  4. hapless
  5. hard-luck
Adjective
  • With a 6-5 record in 11 games post-All Star Weekend (including 2-3 in their last five), Tom Thibodeau's Knicks have been in a bit of a rut that began before Brunson's unfortunate injury.
    — Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Thankfully on one unfortunate visit Puligny had a town cooperative with plenty of wine to drink and a phone number for a man with a van to return us and our bicycles to our hotel in Beaune.
    — Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of unfortunate
Adjective
  • Rather than panic, consider that software developers are pretty unhappy with the status quo.
    — Steve Rodda, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Recent polling also suggests that Americans are relatively unhappy with DOGE’s efforts.
    — Filip Timotija, The Hill, 15 Mar. 2025
Definition of unhappy
Adjective
  • No punishment for shooting a disastrous 24 percent from 3, the team’s worst perimeter performance since its 6-for-23 effort from deep against St. John’s on Feb. 23.
    — Brendan Marks, The Athletic, 22 Mar. 2025
  • Or how about their disastrous appearance on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here?
    — EW Staff, EW.com, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of disastrous
Adjective
  • Of course, people love making memes that portray their political adversaries as hapless and incompetent.
    — Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 8 Mar. 2025
  • The clan of oddballs and down-and-outs has more than a little in common with the Kim family in Parasite, including Song as a hapless patriarch. Stream on Max Mother (2009) The opening and closing scenes of Bong’s masterful 2009 film are, swear to God, among the greatest bookends in movie history.
    — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of hapless
Adjective
  • Pattinson plays Mickey Barnes, a hard-luck guy who has a job that kills him over and over again, getting printed out again after every death.
    — Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2025
  • While Michigan State is overwhelmingly likely to clinch the conference regular season title (the Spartans host Penn State this weekend), a sweep by either Ohio State or Minnesota this weekend would wrap up second place, and the right to host hard-luck Notre Dame in round one.
    — Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 20 Feb. 2025
Definition of hard-luck

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Cite this Entry

“Star-crossed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/star-crossed. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

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