unfulfilling
adjective
un·ful·fill·ing
ˌən-fu̇(l)-ˈfi-liŋ 
also -fə(l)-
: not providing happiness or satisfaction : not fulfilling
an unfulfilling job/relationship
Examples of unfulfilling in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But again his contact with the paternal figure—the guru—is unfulfilling, impersonal.
—
Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
Do not accept riding the hamster wheel of mediocrity, because there will reach a point that the journey will become so entirely unfulfilling and exasperatingly predictable, that a portion of the fan base will tune out.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2026
The subgenre is often marked by mental health struggles, self-destructive behavior, inner turmoil, unfulfilling or otherwise lacking relationships and an overall sense of melancholy.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 22 Dec. 2025
The idea is to free people from those elements of factory work that are physically taxing, unfulfilling, and, well, robotic, so workers can use their brains and take pride in their specialized skills.
—IEEE Spectrum, 5 Nov. 2025
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Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
Do not accept riding the hamster wheel of mediocrity, because there will reach a point that the journey will become so entirely unfulfilling and exasperatingly predictable, that a portion of the fan base will tune out.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2026
The subgenre is often marked by mental health struggles, self-destructive behavior, inner turmoil, unfulfilling or otherwise lacking relationships and an overall sense of melancholy.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 22 Dec. 2025
The idea is to free people from those elements of factory work that are physically taxing, unfulfilling, and, well, robotic, so workers can use their brains and take pride in their specialized skills.
—IEEE Spectrum, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unfulfilling
Cite this Entry
“Unfulfilling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unfulfilling. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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