We’ve all used the word “unfortunately” when breaking bad news or expressing disappointment. It’s polite, formal, and respectful—but let’s face it, it’s also overused and can come off as robotic or emotionally distant, especially in personal messages or professional emails.
If you find yourself leaning on “unfortunately” too often, this guide is for you. Whether you’re writing an apology email, rejecting a request, delivering difficult updates, or simply trying to sound more empathetic and human, having alternatives helps your message feel more thoughtful, clear, and sincere.
These 25 alternatives to “unfortunately” will add tone variety, emotional warmth, and help you communicate with grace and professionalism—without sounding cold or automated.
➡️ Let’s upgrade your vocabulary with meaningful expressions that feel more natural, human, and relatable.
Alternatives to “Unfortunately”
1. Regrettably
A formal and respectful way to express disappointment.
Examples:
- “Regrettably, we won’t be able to attend.”
- “Regrettably, the position has been filled.”
- “Regrettably, we have to cancel the event.”
- “Regrettably, this is out of our control.”
- “Regrettably, the answer is no.”
Why It Works:
It keeps your tone professional and polite, especially in formal emails or announcements.
2. I’m afraid
A gentle and polite way to soften the blow.
Examples:
- “I’m afraid we won’t be able to move forward.”
- “I’m afraid I won’t make it on time.”
- “I’m afraid the budget is too tight.”
- “I’m afraid we can’t approve that request.”
- “I’m afraid that’s not possible right now.”
Why It Works:
This phrase feels more personal and soft, great for 1-on-1 communication.
3. Sadly
Adds emotional tone and empathy to your message.
Examples:
- “Sadly, the opportunity has passed.”
- “Sadly, we didn’t get the result we wanted.”
- “Sadly, the product is no longer available.”
- “Sadly, things changed.”
- “Sadly, we can’t accommodate your request.”
Why It Works:
It shows you’re not just stating facts—you genuinely care about the outcome.
4. It’s with regret
A strong and respectful phrase, especially in formal letters.
Examples:
- “It’s with regret that I decline your offer.”
- “It’s with regret we announce the cancellation.”
- “It’s with regret that I must resign.”
- “It’s with regret that we’re unable to meet the deadline.”
- “It’s with regret that this decision was made.”
Why It Works:
It sounds official and sincere, great for letters, notices, or serious news.
5. To my dismay
Carries emotional weight and personal reaction.
Examples:
- “To my dismay, the results weren’t as expected.”
- “To my dismay, the project was delayed again.”
- “To my dismay, we couldn’t agree.”
- “To my dismay, the file was lost.”
- “To my dismay, the shipment was late.”
Why It Works:
It adds authentic human reaction—ideal when you’re part of the disappointment too.
6. I’m sorry to say
Polite and emotionally aware—a good balance of sincerity and directness.
Examples:
- “I’m sorry to say your application wasn’t selected.”
- “I’m sorry to say we have no available slots.”
- “I’m sorry to say I won’t be able to join you.”
- “I’m sorry to say we missed the deadline.”
- “I’m sorry to say your order was delayed.”
Why It Works:
This phrase softens the bad news and shows genuine care, making you sound human and empathetic.
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7. As much as I’d love to
Adds a personal, heartfelt tone, often used in refusals or missed opportunities.
Examples:
- “As much as I’d love to help, my schedule is packed.”
- “As much as I’d love to attend, I won’t be in town.”
- “As much as I’d love to say yes, I can’t.”
- “As much as I’d love to be part of this, I have to decline.”
- “As much as I’d love to extend the deadline, it’s not possible.”
Why It Works:
It feels warm, honest, and human—it shows you wanted to say yes.
8. It pains me to say
Emotionally powerful—great for serious disappointments.
Examples:
- “It pains me to say we have to let you go.”
- “It pains me to say I can’t be there for you.”
- “It pains me to say the project has failed.”
- “It pains me to say we lost the client.”
- “It pains me to say goodbye.”
Why It Works:
Shows emotional investment in the situation, making your words feel sincere and heartfelt.
9. I’m not thrilled to share
A slightly more casual version, great for internal communication or honest updates.
Examples:
- “I’m not thrilled to share that the deal fell through.”
- “I’m not thrilled to share the team didn’t hit target.”
- “I’m not thrilled to share that costs have gone up.”
- “I’m not thrilled to share we’ll be late on delivery.”
- “I’m not thrilled to share the changes weren’t approved.”
Why It Works:
It sounds authentic—like you’re being real, not robotic.
10. Disappointingly
A more neutral, formal option, great in written statements.
Examples:
- “Disappointingly, we didn’t meet the deadline.”
- “Disappointingly, the results were below expectations.”
- “Disappointingly, the candidate withdrew.”
- “Disappointingly, the event was postponed.”
- “Disappointingly, the project was rejected.”
Why It Works:
It keeps the tone professional while still acknowledging emotion and outcome.
11. I hate to say it
Very human, slightly informal—expresses genuine reluctance.
Examples:
- “I hate to say it, but this won’t work out.”
- “I hate to say it, but the contract has been canceled.”
- “I hate to say it, but I can’t help this time.”
- “I hate to say it, but we’re out of time.”
- “I hate to say it, but the results aren’t good.”
Why It Works:
It shows that you’re reluctant to deliver bad news, which builds empathy.
12. It’s unfortunate that
A twist on the original word, still formal and composed.
Examples:
- “It’s unfortunate that we had to reschedule.”
- “It’s unfortunate that this wasn’t a fit.”
- “It’s unfortunate that the files were corrupted.”
- “It’s unfortunate that travel wasn’t possible.”
- “It’s unfortunate that we couldn’t finalize the deal.”
Why It Works:
Great for professional tone without sounding too stiff.
13. Not what we hoped for
Reflects disappointment and reality, without being harsh.
Examples:
- “This result is not what we hoped for.”
- “The numbers aren’t what we hoped for.”
- “The turnout was not what we hoped for.”
- “The feedback wasn’t what we hoped for.”
- “The outcome is not what we hoped for.”
Why It Works:
It conveys honesty and shared disappointment—useful when you’re on the same side as your listener.
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14. The outcome isn’t ideal
Professional, measured, and solution-oriented.
Examples:
- “The outcome isn’t ideal, but we learned a lot.”
- “The outcome isn’t ideal—we’ll review next steps.”
- “The outcome isn’t ideal, and we take responsibility.”
- “The outcome isn’t ideal, but it’s manageable.”
- “The outcome isn’t ideal—we’ll try again.”
Why It Works:
This phrase acknowledges the situation without sounding too negative. It leaves space for hope and action.
15. Against our hopes
Sounds formal, even poetic—good for press releases or formal notices.
Examples:
- “Against our hopes, the campaign fell short.”
- “Against our hopes, the launch was delayed.”
- “Against our hopes, we won’t be proceeding.”
- “Against our hopes, the results weren’t favorable.”
- “Against our hopes, the budget couldn’t be approved.”
Why It Works:
It gives a sense of effort and intention, even if the result didn’t follow.
16. I wish the news were better
Emotionally expressive and empathetic, ideal when you genuinely feel disappointed for someone.
Examples:
- “I wish the news were better, but we didn’t make the cut.”
- “I wish the news were better—we weren’t selected.”
- “I wish the news were better, but the surgery was postponed.”
- “I wish the news were better, but the offer fell through.”
- “I truly wish the news were better—please know we tried.”
Why It Works:
It communicates emotional sincerity and signals that you care about the impact of the news.
17. We weren’t expecting this
Adds a touch of surprise or empathy, often used when something didn’t go to plan.
Examples:
- “We weren’t expecting this delay, but we’re working on a fix.”
- “We weren’t expecting this outcome, but we’ll adapt.”
- “We weren’t expecting this level of difficulty.”
- “We weren’t expecting this result, and we understand it’s frustrating.”
- “We weren’t expecting this shift in the timeline.”
Why It Works:
Shows that the outcome is unusual and not the result of neglect or poor planning—useful in customer service or team updates.
18. It didn’t go as planned
Casual and honest—works well in personal or professional settings.
Examples:
- “It didn’t go as planned, and we apologize.”
- “The rollout didn’t go as planned.”
- “Our timeline didn’t go as planned, but we’re adjusting.”
- “Sadly, it didn’t go as planned—we encountered tech issues.”
- “The event didn’t go as planned, but we appreciate your patience.”
Why It Works:
Acknowledges reality without being too negative, while still showing accountability and openness to improvement.
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19. It didn’t work out
Short, clear, and often used in relationship, job, or deal-related contexts.
Examples:
- “It didn’t work out between us, and that’s okay.”
- “The partnership didn’t work out.”
- “Sadly, the plan didn’t work out this time.”
- “It didn’t work out as hoped, but we’re moving forward.”
- “I wish it had worked, but it didn’t work out.”
Why It Works:
A gentle way to describe disappointments while signaling closure and maturity.
20. We missed the mark
Used when something fell short of expectations—perfect for team or client reviews.
Examples:
- “We missed the mark on this campaign.”
- “The performance missed the mark, but we’re analyzing why.”
- “We missed the mark and we’re taking steps to fix it.”
- “We know we missed the mark, and we’re sorry.”
- “Let’s talk about where we missed the mark and improve.”
Why It Works:
It accepts responsibility and shows a growth mindset, ideal in business, branding, or leadership communication.
21. It’s not great news
Honest and emotionally real—used when you want to avoid sounding overly corporate.
Examples:
- “It’s not great news, but we’ll learn from it.”
- “I know it’s not great news, and I’m here for you.”
- “It’s not great news about the results, I know.”
- “It’s not great news, but there’s a silver lining.”
- “It’s not great news—still, there’s a plan in motion.”
Why It Works:
Perfect for personal connection, especially when you don’t want to sugarcoat things.
22. Things didn’t align
Polite, often used in business, partnerships, or opportunities that weren’t the right fit.
Examples:
- “Things didn’t align, so we’re passing for now.”
- “While we appreciate your pitch, things didn’t align.”
- “We had a great talk, but things didn’t align this time.”
- “Unfortunately, things didn’t align with our goals.”
- “We explored it, but things didn’t align.”
Why It Works:
It sounds diplomatic and respectful—great for maintaining relationships even when the answer is no.
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23. It wasn’t meant to be
Warm, slightly informal, and often used in personal or spiritual contexts.
Examples:
- “Sometimes, it just wasn’t meant to be.”
- “It wasn’t meant to be, but you gave your best.”
- “It wasn’t meant to be—trust the timing.”
- “We tried hard, but it wasn’t meant to be.”
- “This role wasn’t meant to be, but others will come.”
Why It Works:
Adds a sense of acceptance and emotional peace—great when you want to uplift after bad news.
24. There’s been a setback
Neutral and responsible—often used in business, project updates, or reporting.
Examples:
- “There’s been a setback in development.”
- “We’ve hit a small setback with the timeline.”
- “There’s been a setback, but we’re adjusting.”
- “We acknowledge there’s been a setback.”
- “Due to the weather, there’s been a setback in shipping.”
Why It Works:
It implies temporary challenges, not failure—useful for keeping morale and trust intact.
25. It turned out differently than expected
Balanced and realistic, good for both personal and professional tones.
Examples:
- “It turned out differently than expected, but we learned a lot.”
- “Things turned out differently than expected—we’re adjusting.”
- “It turned out differently than expected—we’re re-evaluating.”
- “Our plan turned out differently than expected, but we’ll try again.”
- “The interview turned out differently than expected.”
Why It Works:
Shows openness to outcome and keeps the tone non-blaming, respectful, and optimistic.
Conclusion
While “unfortunately” gets the job done, the real magic lies in choosing words that reflect empathy, clarity, and emotional intelligence. Whether you’re writing an email, having a tough conversation, or updating your audience, these 25 alternatives help your message feel more genuine, human, and thoughtful.
Next time you’re tempted to copy-paste that same old “unfortunately,” pause—and try one of these fresh alternatives. You’ll connect better, sound more sincere, and leave a lasting impact.
I’m Leo Knox, the wordplay wizard behind WordsTwists.com where I turn everyday meanings into funny, clever, and creative twists. If you’re tired of saying things the boring way, I’ve got a better (and funnier) one for you!
