unacceptable

adjective

un·​ac·​cept·​able ˌən-ik-ˈsep-tə-bəl 

-ak-

: not acceptable : not pleasing or welcome

unacceptability

ˌən-ik-ˌsep-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

unacceptably

ˌən-ik-ˈsep-tə-blē 

adverb

Synonyms of unacceptable

• wrong
• poor
• lame
• bad
• horrible
• terrible
• deficient
• awful
• unsatisfactory
• flawed
• disastrous
• pathetic

Examples of unacceptable in a Sentence

a word that is unacceptable in formal English

Some of her ideas were unacceptable to other people.

Recent Examples on the Web

But critics, like the Civic Federation, are denouncing the budget plan, calling it an unacceptable abdication of responsibility to meet the fiscal realities facing the city. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026

Detection is no substitute for prevention, not when consequences are truly unacceptable. — Andrew Ginter, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026

The win won’t change what’s frankly been an unacceptable campaign for a program that was 18-1-4 just two seasons ago. — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026

The treatment of women in these shirts has been unacceptable and targeted. — Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unacceptable

• acceptable
• perceptible
• susceptible
• imperceptible

Kids Definition

unacceptable

adjective

un·​ac·​cept·​able ˌən-ik-ˈsep-tə-bəl 

-ak-

: not acceptable : not pleasing or welcome

unacceptably

-blē 

adverb