unsatisfactory

adjective

un·​sat·​is·​fac·​to·​ry ˌən-ˌsa-təs-ˈfak-t(ə-)rē How to pronounce unsatisfactory (audio)
: not satisfactory
unsatisfactorily adverb
unsatisfactoriness noun

Examples of unsatisfactory in a Sentence

He was fired for unsatisfactory performance. an unsatisfactory first attempt at building a birdhouse
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
If any of those questions are met with an unsatisfactory answer, next season could be just as difficult for Manchester City as this one has proved. The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025 The response was unsatisfactory for Senator James Lankford (R-Ok.), who spoke on behalf of companies that shifted sourcing strategies during Trump’s first term in office. Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 8 Apr. 2025 Windows 11 is still an appalling tablet OS with a crippling lack of touch-friendly apps, and the stylus has an irritating input lag that makes scribbling on screen unsatisfactory. Barry Collins, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024 The findings are available to the public at cdc.gov, with a score of 86 and above deemed satisfactory and anything under considered unsatisfactory. Chrissie McClatchie, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unsatisfactory

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1650, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unsatisfactory was circa 1650

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Cite this Entry

“Unsatisfactory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unsatisfactory. Accessed 19 May. 2025.

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