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 One unsatisfactory resolution to this conundrum is that maybe Enceladus just got lucky: Radioactivity could explain an early portion of its oceanic past, and its dance with Dione a more recent episode. WIRED, 24 Dec. 2023 In December 2019, the union went on strike over unsatisfactory pay, and some buses ran on a reduced schedule. Danny Nguyen, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024 Medical services, like billing disputes or unsatisfactory service. Journal Sentinel, 2 Feb. 2024 Even McKinsey, the renowned management consulting firm, has placed more than three thousand of its employees on notice for unsatisfactory performance. Stephen Miles, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024 Matrimony and domesticity at the time were considered part of the basic life path for women and the idea that a wife could find these things unsatisfactory and abandon her husband and children went down about as easily as the notion of a portly, irritable reality TV show host running for president. Randy McMullen, The Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2024 Condition: The category that best describes the condition of the dam based on available information, using a four-level scale: Satisfactory, fair, poor, and unsatisfactory. Sabrina Shankman, BostonGlobe.com, 15 July 2023 The authors suggested several solutions to reduce the number of incomplete and unsatisfactory tests. Deborah Balthazar, STAT, 16 Nov. 2023 Conversation friendly Ratings key: Four stars, outstanding; three stars, excellent; two stars, very good; one star, good; no stars, unsatisfactory. Nick Kindelsperger, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unsatisfactory.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1650, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unsatisfactory was circa 1650

Dictionary Entries Near unsatisfactory

Cite this Entry

“Unsatisfactory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unsatisfactory. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.

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