The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word UNTOWARD
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
U
N
T
O
W
A
R
D
More clues leading to the result UNTOWARD
- Unseemly to make a dash for part of hospital, right away
- Where nurse may be heading is unfortunate
- Inauspicious drawn-out plays
- Unit dismissing one old part of hospital is inconvenient
- Drawn out reorganisation is not right and proper
- Characterised by misfortune and horribly drawn out
- Unseemly ruination not oddly Guardian’s concern
- Inappropriate manoeuvring drawn out
- Inauspicious start to detente following peacekeepers opposing what Christian soldiers march as
- Inappropriate, directed at minor
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Characterised by misfortune" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case characterised by misfortune = untoward.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does UNTOWARD mean?
UNTOWARD adjective- Unfavourable, adverse, or disadvantageous.
- Unruly, troublesome; not easily guided.
- Unseemly, improper.