unsuccessful
adjective
un·suc·cess·ful
ˌən-sək-ˈses-fəl 
: not successful : not meeting with or producing success
Examples of unsuccessful in a Sentence
His last novel was unsuccessful.
an unsuccessful attempt to fix the faucet ourselves
Recent Examples on the Web
Efforts by Knight's attorneys to appeal the case have so far been unsuccessful.
—
Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
Harry launched an unsuccessful bid for City Council in 2010.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 23 Apr. 2026
In 2017, Bombardier again turned to China for a deal after negotiations with Boeing over the C Series were unsuccessful.
—Lucy Handley, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026
Following an unsuccessful suicide attempt, Creasy’s best friend Paul Rayburn (Bobby Cannavale) recruits him to join him in Brazil and help lead an anti-terrorist operation.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
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Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
Harry launched an unsuccessful bid for City Council in 2010.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 23 Apr. 2026
In 2017, Bombardier again turned to China for a deal after negotiations with Boeing over the C Series were unsuccessful.
—Lucy Handley, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026
Following an unsuccessful suicide attempt, Creasy’s best friend Paul Rayburn (Bobby Cannavale) recruits him to join him in Brazil and help lead an anti-terrorist operation.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unsuccessful
Cite this Entry
“Unsuccessful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unsuccessful. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unsuccessful
adjective
un·suc·cess·ful
ˌən(t)-sək-ˈses-fəl
: not successful : not having or producing success
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