unpromising
adjective
un·prom·is·ing
ˌən-ˈprä-mə-siŋ 
: appearing unlikely to prove worthwhile or result favorably
an unpromising beginning
Examples of unpromising in a Sentence
Things got off to an unpromising start.
She can do a lot with unpromising material.
Recent Examples on the Web
This otherwise unpromising setup is made not just bearable, but a genuine pleasure by the central trio.
—
Judy Berman, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
This is the unpromising backdrop to Keir Starmer's trip to Beijing this week in the first by a British prime minister since Theresa May visited eight years ago.
—Ian King, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2026
In short, the future feels scary and unpromising.
—Kian Bakhtiari, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
But no money was appropriated for reading reform beyond that amount, which would suggest an unpromising future for state support of reading reforms.
—Alan J. Borsuk, jsonline.com, 30 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unpromising
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Judy Berman, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
This is the unpromising backdrop to Keir Starmer's trip to Beijing this week in the first by a British prime minister since Theresa May visited eight years ago.
—Ian King, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2026
In short, the future feels scary and unpromising.
—Kian Bakhtiari, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
But no money was appropriated for reading reform beyond that amount, which would suggest an unpromising future for state support of reading reforms.
—Alan J. Borsuk, jsonline.com, 30 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unpromising
Cite this Entry
“Unpromising.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unpromising. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unpromising
adjective
un·prom·is·ing
ˌən-ˈpräm-ə-siŋ
ˈən-
: appearing unlikely to prove worthwhile or successful
unpromisingly
adverb
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